Idaho Core Standards

Learning in the 21st Century

History to New Standards

2009
Educators worked with legislators to develop more rigorous academic standards.

2011
Idaho Legislature voted to adopt the Idaho Core Standards.

2013-2014
Schools began implementing standards in English Language Arts and Mathematics.

What is a Standard?
Standard
Defines what students should know and be able to do at the end of the grade level. Provides guidelines and proficiency targets.

Curriculum and Instruction

Resources, lessons and teaching methodology used to help students learn and meet targets. Students will use cubes to show relationship between objects and numbers.

continued
Standards

Curriculum

Common across US

Unique to each district and school

All 8th Graders will understand that a function is a rule that assigns to each input exactly one output.

Standards Address Two Areas:

Math

ELA
English Language Arts

Changes in Math
Students will work more deeply in fewer topics.
What this means: Fewer concepts will be covered, but in more depth. Students will master skills before moving on to next concept.

Students will understand why the math works and be asked to talk about and prove their understanding.
What this means: Students will not just memorize formulas but will learn the foundations of mathematics.

Students will be asked to use math in real-world situations.

What this means: Students will not just memorize formulas or methods but will learn strategies for solving problems in real-world situations.

Problem Solving Strategies

Visual representation encourages students to see the problem in a whole new way. Multiple strategies are used to solve a problem Hands-on activities helps deepen students understanding Verbal explanations checks for understanding This is a shift to understanding mathematical concepts rather than just rote memorization

How is ELA different?

Challenging students with different types of texts.
What this means: Students will read challenging texts in every class including classic literature, stories, poems and non-fiction.

Evidence from the text must be used in oral presentations or written papers.
What this means: In all classes, students will read different types of texts -- hard copy books and digital resources, fiction or non-fiction and then use evidence to back up written and oral presentations they make in class.

Increased vocabulary across all grade levels.

What this means: There will be a larger focus on vocabulary in all subject areas and at all grade levels.

For Example.
Previously, writing was taught in isolation and mainly centered on creative writing. With the Idaho Core Standards, expository, opinion, and narrative writing is taught explicitly in all core subject areas.

Students learn to write using references from many resources to make logical arguments

In reading, students are challenged to increase vocabulary through higher text complexity. Students will independently increase comprehension through informational text, narrative, and non-fiction materials.

Fewer, clearer, higher expectations

Assessment

Shift ISAT Smarter

Balanced

Grade 4 Mathematics Question Smarter Balanced

Grade 4 ELA Question Smarter Balanced

Olivers Big Splash
One beautiful fall day, Oliver and his owner, Jeff, went for a walk around the lake. They were enjoying the sunshine and the lake when suddenly a dragonfly flew past. For a moment, Oliver forgot where he and Jeff were and what they were doing. All of a sudden there was a big splash.

Write an ending for the story by adding details to tell what happens next.

When Will Students Take the SBAC?

In 2014 students will take the SBAC field test. In 2015 all students in Idaho will take the SBAC.

Will Students be Proficient?

Because the standards are more rigorous, it will take students a few years to master them.

As expectations increase, it may take time to meet new proficiency levels.

Teaching to a higher standard is good for our students and their future.

Learning in the 21st Century

Although this transition is a challenge for teachers, students and parents, we know that working together we can better prepare our students for the 21st Century.