I think parents often confuse Common Core with the assessment itself, so I clarify that Common Core is a set of standards, not a test. I also explain some of the reasoning behind Common Core, one being that students were getting to college and having to take remedial classes because they were not prepared for the rigor that came with college. For language arts classes, Common Core means increased writing, and I explain the benefits of this. Students who can express themselves through writing likely are becoming more critical thinkers.

I believe that many parents are just as confused about the implementation of Common Core as many teachers are. I would try to share articles with research as to the benefit of the aspects of Common Core. This really helped me. Also because of the misunderstandings about Common Core,many are not teaching it the way it was imagined to be taught. This also leads to the unease. Ideally, teachers would still teach in unique ways, but in some classrooms the teachers fear being unique due to outsiden pressure. In turn, children spend most of the time bored, confused, and filled with anxiety. Parents see this, and discredit Common Core. Again, showing research (articles) showing the goal of Common Core, will help parents get on board.

Since Common Core is what we are required to teach, I would focus on the positives of Common Core when speaking with parents. One of the things I tell my parents is that common core focuses on the "why" or "how" did you get your answer. We want students to get the right answer, but we also want them to be able to explain how they got the answer and why their answer makes sense. T

Common Core gets a bad rap when it is on the news as this abstract method of how to solve a simple arithmetic problem. I would suggest that during back to school night, you present, without naming it, the reason Common Core was created, 'differences of expectations from high schools to the college level,' by saying, "not too long ago, there were issues with colleges getting students at very different ability levels when it came to curriculum. A group of specialists went to multiple universities to find out what they expected students to be able to do from day one of university. From there, each piece of the curriculum is created to be the next step down from the previous, covering pre-requisite knowledge." Something similar may suffice. Then break in the terminology "Common Core." Make it clear that in today's world, students must be able to look at problems in multiple aspects. As a teacher, it is your job to provide instruction to multiple methods so that students can fill their toolbox. The analogy of building a house with only a hammer versus a range of different tools.

I always tell parents that I will introduce several methods for solving problems. I leave it up to the students to choose the one that is most comfortable for them. I also inform parents to expect writing from every subject area, including math!