Common Core changes how students are educated

FRESNO COUNTY, Calif. (KFSN) -- Common Core and the new California state standards. By now you've probably heard those terms either at school or in the news, but what do they mean?

"We develop our curriculum and lessons locally using our experts," said Clovis Unified Deputy Superintendent Carlo Prandini.

Love it or hate it, the new Common Core state standards are here and they're changing how every child in the state is educated.

"I think the biggest thing they'll see is a lot more activity out of the students," said Central Unified Superintendent Mike Berg.

Starting this fall, parents will notice schools are moving away from memorization and toward a new style of learning.

"I used to see classrooms where students are in rows, listening to a teacher lecture, and now I go into Central Unified classrooms and you see small groups working with one another under the guidance of a teacher," said Berg.

Math is also getting a major makeover. Traditional textbooks are being tossed aside. What's taught in each grade will be shuffled around and often merged -- meaning first graders will get a taste of algebra while learning to add. Middle school students will be exposed to geometry while still solving for X, and while there may be one right answer -- there could be a number of ways to get there.

"There's a lot more deeper thinking going on. The kids they are challenged with this new rigorous curriculum or standards, but they meet that challenge," said Sanger Unified teacher Janell Miller.

Under the new rules, students will be required to explain why they have formulated a certain opinion or how they arrived at a certain answer.

"Now when you look at a history lesson for example, students shouldn't just be remembering the War of 1812, they should be talking about what happened, where it happened, why it happened and how it could be avoided or mitigated," said Berg.

Each school district is implementing Common Core in a different way.

"We at Central believe we're the first nationwide to do a true one-to-one tablet computer to student roll out," said Berg.

At Central Unified, the focus is on technology. On the first day of school, each of the district's more than 15,000 students got an Asus tablet to use in class and at home.

"Software adapts to the students' learning ability or learning level and then moves them forward or back as needed until they've mastered that content," said Berg.

At Clovis Unified, educators say Common Core will be used as a foundation to identify skills students need to master, but it'll be up to the teacher to decide how the curriculum is delivered.

"We don't hand our teachers, here you go this is what you do every day," said Clovis Unified Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction Debbie Parra.

Educators say if a new-style question makes your eyes cross, ask your child's teacher for some homework of your own. Worksheets and websites can help parents understand learning through Common Core, so parents can then help kids with their assignments.

So far, more than 40 states -- including California -- have made the switch to Common Core, but not everyone agrees with the change.

According to an exclusive Action News poll conducted by SurveyUSA, only 22 percent said they support the new standards, 31 percent said they're opposed and 47 percent said they don't know enough to say.