The common core state standards for mathematics must impact instruction in our schools. Two of the areas of instruction change implemented by the common core standards and mathematical practices that we should see are related to academics and life skills. Aligning with the common core standards should result in a move towards adequately preparing our students to be thinkers, college ready and internationally competitive in our global job market. Academics should be impacted by the focused, coherent, rigorous approach of common core. Previously there were many different sets of standards within schools, some even vague and confusing according to the report on the Teaching Channel video, “Common Core State Standards for Math.” As instruction becomes focused in the classroom, there are fewer topics covered while studying those main topics in depth. The major topics are looked at in detail and built upon each year instead of skimming yearly without ever achieving mastery. These concept progressions are noted by grade at …show more content…
Within common core classrooms, students should be given adequate time to analyze and work through the complex, multi-step mathematical problems. By struggling with the concepts, they are working out the mathematical practices. But making sense of problems and persevering in solving them is just the first practice listed by the Common Core State Standards Website. Corestandards.org list all eight practices which include aspects of reasoning, providing evidence, critiquing, understanding and defending, being precise, constructing arguments and finding flaws. These practices will help our students become problem solvers even as adults. Wessling calls this development of mathematical thinking “habits of the mind” and says that it causes children to be responsible for their own learning both now and as