During the reading of the standards and throughout the testimonies, committee members asked a multitude of questions for clarity about the language, purpose, and implementation of the standards.  However, the focal question really needed to be “Are they working?”  Tennessee has already begun its full implementation of the standards despite unanswered questions, and students will soon tackle the 2014-2015 PARCC assessment.  By this time, we should be hearing teacher feedback on the classroom success and struggle of CCSS thus far.   However, I was the only active teacher testifying that day- the only person in the room to have actually taught the standards to our students.

Instead of asking whether or not they were working, the questions revolved around the federal takeover of education, the collection of personal student data, and the technology needed for assessments.  Tennessee Education Commissioner Kevin Huffman began the day of testimony by answering a barrage of questions about language in the standards, subject content, curriculum changes, cost, accountability, quality, and so many other fundamental tidbits.  Multiple testimonies from outsiders and Tennessee’s own continued through the day.  But again- what is actually working?  And where are we headed next?

Here is one thing that is working; Tennessee is working hard to prepare its educators to implement these rigorous standards.  The state wide summer trainings led by over 700 Core Coaches welcomed over 20,000 teachers and reformatted versions of those trainings continue to take place throughout districts.  These trainings offered teachers first hand practice at creating unit outlines, fostering student-led discussions, and deepening mathematical thought and computation.  As a recipient and leader of the trainings, I know they are effective.  I, as well as many other teachers, marched back into the classroom in August prepared to take our classes to another level.  But we are not there yet.  There are more teachers who need training and every teacher needs the opportunity to collaborate with their grade and content level.  The boost of CCSS training for the past two years is definitely a factor in Tennessee being the fastest improving state this year, but we cannot pull back.  We have to disperse the trainings to every school building across Tennessee.

What else is working?  The standards themselves.  We have known all along that our students are struggling readers and thinkers.  Instructional practice has slowly shifted to a student-centered, student-led classroom, but the previous standards (and corresponding assessments) have not held students accountable enough.  There has been disconnect between quality instruction, the standards, and the learner.  But I have seen firsthand how the new shifts in instruction through the increased cognitive demand can create discomfort that leads to greater discovery in students.  Children crave a challenge. and what teachers need to be prepared to be is a guide to direct them through the challenge.  However, the students are the ones to navigate the challenges, the higher-level skills.

We have a long way to go but Tennessee has already proven that we are determined to do what it takes to raise our students’ achievement.  As a teacher, I am honored to be a part of this redirection of education under the common core, and as always to be a citizen of the great state of Tennessee!

Casie Jones work as an instructional coach for SCS and formerly taught at MLK academy

Follow bluff city ed on twitter @bluffcityed and sign up on our homepage for email updates!