Today I write about two unique opportunities. Your voice can help make this country a better place for children and play. First, as I’ve written recently, the Common Core Standards are now available for public comment at www.corestandards.org (until April 2nd). The current draft for kindergarten includes:
“Read with sufficient accuracy and fluency to support comprehension.”
“Use the most common affixes in English (e.g., -ed, -s, re-, un-, pre-, -ful, -less) as a clue to the meaning of an unknown word.”
“Say the number name sequence forward or backward beginning from a given number within the known sequence (instead of always beginning at 1).”
“Understand that names of shapes apply regardless of the orientation or overall size of the shape.”
As you may recall, Alliance for Childhood recently released a joint statement about the Common Core Standards signed by concerned early childhood experts from across the country. (Here is an excerpt from that statement: “Young children learn best in active, hands-on ways and in the context of meaningful real-life experiences. New research shows that didactic instruction of discrete reading and math skills has already pushed play-based learning out of many kindergartens.”)
The statement has already impacted the Common Core Standards, with some small changes having been made. (Now kindergarten students must know haw to write most upper and lowercase letters instead of all upper and lower case letters.) There is a chance that we can make an even bigger impact. The Alliance for Childhood website has links to all the early childhood standards and ideas about how to respond to the survey. I filled one in yesterday, and urge you to do the same – before the comment period closes. Currently (according to Catherine Gewetrz of Education Week) the comments being submitted about the standards are 75% positive and 25% negative. Let’s get that negative percentage higher and get some attention! Also, for more information and ideas about the Common Core Standards, Race to the Top, No Child Left Behind and more…you can also check out the insightful exchanges between Deborah Meier and Diane Ravitch on the Bridging Differences blog in Ed Week.
Another way to speak out on behalf of children is to encouraging Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move campaign to include recess in their plan to fight childhood obesity. Check out this recent blog post for more on that. Currently, and only for the next few days, there is a chance to send your comments and ideas to the task force at Let’s Move. Click here to send in your ideas. Last week I was talking with a frustrated mom who has a very sad little 6 year-old daughter. Every day, her daughter has to “earn” her recess, and sometimes she just isn’t able to. On those days, she gets off the bus crying. To me, that is outrageous and unacceptable. Recess belongs in the school day, for exercise, relieving stress and having some fun!
I hope you find some moments in the next day or so to use your voice on behalf of children and play. And I urge you to spread the word about these two unique opportunities.
Thank you so much for posting about these two commenting opportunities. I would not have known about them, but they both are truly important to me!
Excellent, Angela. And I hope you have spread the word to other interested folks…there is still time to comment on the Common Core Standards. Keep on fighting the good fight!