Common Core - Osceola

The past year Osceola has been able to send a few people from each building/grade level to workshops to learn more about the Common Core. In addition, we spent the past summer in math and literacy workshops (4 days each) taking a look at the changes necessary as a district and at each grade level. In regards to math, as Janet mentioned in the Semester III discussion, our biggest area of focus is in regards to fluency with addition and subtraction facts. The common core seems to Focus on arithmetic and fluency with whole numbers at early grades. I believe 2nd graders need to be able to add and subtract within 20. There are other changes that need to be addresses as well. We do feel that Investigations has a nice fit with the common core but the company is creating a new piece that will better align with the common core. We are waiting to hear those changes and see how it will impact our current curriculum.

In regards to Language Arts, we also spent the past summer taking a look at the language arts common core. One of the changes that we saw at the grade 2 level involved using digital tools to publish writing. As a grade level, we have included to have students produce at least one of their writing pieces using technology/digital tools. Once again, we feel that the LEAD 21 curriculum aligns fairly well with the new language arts common core. Even though LEAD 21 takes a lot of work and time, once again it seems to be a nice fit with the common core.

The Common Core State Standards Initiative:

Language Arts Common Core Grade 2

Math Common Core Grade 2