Ramon S. Tafoya

The Common Core emphasizes critical thinking. It requires students to analyze more, discuss more, evaluate more, justify more and explain their thinking & understanding deeply, especially in writing. Take-Away: Really thinking deeply is hard. Let it BE hard, help them talk it out. 

The Common Core emphasizes learning across disciplines (reading with math & social studies standards combined into one task). Students spend more time working together with different settings, structures & tools. Take-Away: Problems & solutions happen everyday in the real world. 

The Common Core emphasizes proof & evidence. Long gone are the days of worksheets, fact memorizations and skill & drill. Students are not taught this way and they are not assessed this way. Take-Away: The new tests will require students to explain how they know. 

• Ask *why* when children tell you they want something or want to do or not do something.
• Use the word *because* after “No” or “Not tonight…”
• Give reasons--you to them and them to you.
• Encourage questions & explore answers (especially questions whose answers are not yes or no.)
• Explain & discuss issues or problems in your house, neighborhood, & community. Brainstorm solutions.
• Compare how things are alike and different-videos, movies, food.
• Look for patterns 8 Describe & categorize stuff.
• Tell your children what you value & why.
• Encourage & celebrate opinions.