1) greater focus on fewer topics,
2) coherence, linking topics and thinking across grades and
3) rigor, pursuing conceptual understanding, procedural skills and fluency, and application with equal intensity.
Illinois adopted the Common Core in 2010, beginning full implementation during the 2013-2014 school year. These standards are high and emphasize depth over breadth to improve student success and preparedness for college and careers. For example, according to the Common Core State Standards for Mathematics, "some of the highest priority content for college and career readiness comes from Grades 6-8". [p. 84]
There are many consequences to these changes. Number 3 above is a great shift. I remember when I took an undergraduate stats class in college - a long time ago - before there were hand-held calculators in general use. There was much emphasis on computation and not much opportunity for real application. It is different now with the tools of computation. Teaching the important application of probability and statistics is now possible, allowing the calculator to crunch the data. Having the opportunity to discuss and analyze results is important.
This past year I tutored two students in college-level elementary statistics. Both colleges required purchase of a TI-84 graphics calculator which has powerful statistics and probability tools. These two students, however, experienced very different situations.
One teacher embraced the tools of the calculator. He showed the mathematics and how to use the calculator tools. With the calculator he was able to use real applications which led to more discussion and better understanding. The other teacher never got past the computations. After students had already purchased it, she told them they didn't really need that calculator. Any calculator that would do the arithmetic would do. She was unwilling or unable to exploit the tools of the calculator. I showed the student how to use the calculator to build the tables that she had to copy to her paper and how to use the calculator functions to check her computation answers. That student had to worry more about memorizing formulas and writing a lot of intermediate arithmetic steps. I don't think most students in that class really understood why stats was valuable for them to learn.
There are great resources for learning about and applying Common Core standards to your teaching.
The official site of Common Core State Standards Initiative (CCSSI) includes standards adopted state by state and information for parents. http://www.corestandards.org/
Illinois State Board of Education Common Core: http://www.isbe.net/common_core/default.htm
Illinois Common Core Standards Resources: http://www.isbe.net/common_core/htmls/resources.htm
The Mathematics Common Core Toolbox site is "a resource designed to support districts working to meet the challenge and the opportunity of the new standards. It includes tools and instructional materials that help you to better understand and to implement the CCSSM [Common Core State Standards for Mathematics]. http://www.ccsstoolbox.org/
Happy Teaching!
