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What Is Common Core?

Common Core State Standards (CCSS or Common Core) is a set of standards, not a curriculum. CCSS provides alignment with national and international standards to meet 21st century education and workplace needs. Additionally, shared goals and expectations for knowledge and skills are provided to help students succeed. Ultimately, CCSS is designed to prepare students for college and their careers.
The diocese and local schools decide how standards will be met within their individual curriculum. Holy Spirit School is now multiple years into the implementation of CCSS standards.

How Does HSS Use CCSS?

CCSS is used in English Language Arts (ELA) and math from kindergarten through the eight grade. Shifts in ELA incorporate reading, writing, speaking and listening skills in science, social studies, religion, and more. Staff professional development is provided by the diocese and outside experts. Additionally, HSS has invested in new ELA and mathematics curriculum materials that are aligned with CCSS. Finally, our teachers at HSS have and continue to actively engage in collaboration with peers at HSS and within the diocese.
For additional information on how HSS applies the CCSS standards within our curriculum, see below (under the "Where To Learn More" section) for details on kindergarten through fourth grades and fifth through eighth grades.

Where To Learn More

Any parents who wish to learn more about CCSS should visit the "What parents should know" page on the Common Core State Standards Initiative website.

Kindergarten Through Fourth Grades

The purpose of CCSS in grades K-4 is to improve critical thinking and problem solving in any context; as well as prepare students for workforce skills that our world demands.
Six Key Shifts in ELA
  • More non-fiction than before (50/50 balance).
  • Gain knowledge through text (key ideas).
  • Text complexity and range of reading.
  • Evidence-based conversations about text.
  • Writing from sources.
  • Academic language.
Catholic Identity
  • What does Jesus teach us about being a friend?
  • Catholic social teaching.
  • Suggested literature (text exemplars).
Six Key Shifts in Mathematics
  • Learn more about less: Students must spend more time on fewer concepts.
  • Skills across grades: Students must keep building on learning year after year.
  • Speed and accuracy: Students must spend time practicing lots of problems on the same idea.
  • Know it/do it:  Students must understand why the math works, talk about why the math works and prove that they know why the math works.
  • Real world: Students must apply math in real world situations and know which math to use for which situation.
  • Think fast/solve problems: Students must be able to use core math facts fast and be able to apply math in the real world.
Mathematics Key Fluencies
  • Kindergarten: Add/subtract within 5
  • First grade: Add/subtract within 10
  • Second grade: Add/subtract within 20 and add/subtract within 100 (paper)
  • Third grade: Multiply/divide within 100 and add/subtract within 1,000
  • Fourth grade: Add/subtract within 1,000,000

Fifth Through Eighth Grades

Reading (informational and literary)
  • Shift focus to cover both informational and literary texts: Literature classes focus on reading a variety of fictional texts with focus on learning literary elements and critical analysis. Increased informational text responsibility now shared with other curricular areas (for example, science, social studies, religion).
  • Reading increase in social studies, science, and more.
  • Independent and guided reading.
  • Close reading (in-depth reading, annotation) required.
  • Use of selected CCSS text exemplars.
Writing
  • Text types and purposes: Argument, informative, explanatory and narrative.
  • Production and distribution of writing: Develop and organize writing appropriate to task, purpose and audience. Plan, draft, revise, edit, rewrite and publish.
  • Research to build and present knowledge: Text-based evidence to support analysis.
  • Range of writing: Extended time frames and shorter time frames for a range of tasks, purposes and audiences.
Speaking and Listening
  • Comprehension and collaboration: Preparation and participation. Integrate and evaluate information from diverse formats including visually and orally.
  • Presentation of knowledge and ideas: Organization, development and style. Includes digital media and visual displays of data. Adapt speech to a variety of contexts. Use of formal English when appropriate.
Mathematics Key Fluencies
  • Fifth grade: Multi-digit multiplication
  • Sixth grade: Multi-digit division and multi-digit decimal operations
  • Seventh grade: Solve px + q = r, p(x+q) = r
  • Eighth grade: Solve simple 2x2 systems by inspection