“The Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts Instruction in Grades 6-12: Origins, Goals, and Challenges”

Often times as students of English education we find Common Core State Standards to be cumbersome and difficult. Those of use with master teachers who are concerned negatively with Common Core may find even more opposition against it. It is a scary thing to face that can often times be frustrating and feel limiting, but after reading this chapter on Common Core in Language Arts classrooms it is much easier to put many of the benefits of standardized into context. Only recently have I learned about the necessity to teach to 21^st century students. That is to say we as educators need to adapt to the electronic world with our instruction as well as help students shape into collaborative workers, leaders, and group members working toward a common goal. I really liked the description of “passionate affinity spaces” A lot of the things this section touches a go with our discussion of group work as a valuable tool in the classroom. It takes in a lot of what we discussed on students each bringing their own varied experience to the classroom, and that we can all benefit from different outlooks and learning styles/abilities in our classrooms. The classroom is described as, “where people’s endeavors and interest in a common goal…a deep passion that results in commitment to achievement in that goal,” is the perfect example of the mastery-based student focused environment we are trying to create. This gives the students personal value in the, sometimes hostile, learning setting.  Although, the strict structure of common core, and the districts sometimes strong hold on curriculum can be stressful for teachers who wish to put their own flair in the classroom, there are many way we can adapt lessons and still put in personal touches to reach this focused classroom community. As long as we maintain our rational what we are doing, we can use research such as this to build classrooms that are not only meeting common core and district standards, but are also meeting students’ needs both as learners and as humans striving toward one goal.