Common Core Standards

[nafmeadmin]

Everyone in my (small) district is forming committees, creating strategies, attending workshops and all that stuff districts tend to do when some new initiative comes down from above. And, whether one accepts Common Core, I think it\’s coming, regardless. In Idaho, and perhaps in your state, Common Core standards exist for Math and Language Arts, but not for music.

I teach primarily based on the NAfME standards. I\’ve found via research that some districts back east are developing CC standards for music which may be the way we\’ll all be going eventually.

I\’d like to help my principal understand that when it comes to committee work, my time and skills would be better utilized researching Music and Common Core, instead of feeling like a fifth-wheel in a committee comprised of Math, English and Science teachers. Any suggestions?

It would be helpful to know that as a small district, I\’m one of only 3 music teachers. Thanks for you input.

[nafmeadmin]

Send me an email and I will send you what my district has been working on, if you want it. What we have done is just simple stated what we are doing the aligns with the CCS. So far we have completed 5th grade. My email is simmonsja@rcschools.net

[nafmeadmin]

Connecticut doesn’t have any CCS for music yet, either. I know of one district whose music department is the same size as yours, and in the absence of Music standards, they have been getting together and working on ways to include the Math and Language Arts material in their music lessons. Perhaps if you approach your principal with an idea that you’ve been working on to do that, and explain that you’d like help from your colleagues to expand on it, he/she will be more understanding. Consistency across curriculums is a great thing, anyway. Good luck!

[nafmeadmin]

A White Paper came out recently, “From Common Core Standards to Curriculum: Five Big Ideas.” The paper summarizes Authentic Education’s recommendations for developing curriculum and assessments that reflect the intent and emphases of the Common Core State Standards (CCSS). You may find it helpful. Read a summary and link to the document at http://musiced.nafme.org/news/new-paper-examines-the-link-between-common-core-standards-curriculum-and-assessments/

Linda Brown
NAfME Staff

[nafmeadmin]

You might want to follow the work being done by the National Coalition for Core Arts Standards (NAfME plays an active part). Info is at nccas.wikispaces.com). In developing a new generation of music standards, we’ve been doing some work on this; the College Board has completed a pretty large study on the topic, which should be published on the NCCAS site within the next month.

One of the key takeaways is the fact that the Common Core English standards consistently refer to the importance of helping students deal with a “text” — but they don’t limit the idea of a text to English prose. Establish that a text, especially in our multi-mode society, can be a music composition or performance, and you’re part way there.

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