5 Reasons Students Praise Common Core

The goal of the Common Core standards is to prepare students for college and future careers. They focus on thinking, analysis and the ability to understand information. While some students criticize these new standards, others praise it.

Here are five reasons some students praise Common Core:

1. There's more opportunity to defend your answer: Desiree Jones, a high school student helping test new assessments at James Lick High School in East San Jose, Calif. tells Ed Source, "With this test, you had to make your point and explain your answer. In the future, you may have to do the same thing — back up your claim — where you work. You can't just say, 'That's good.' You'll need to say what you think and why."

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2. Testing on a computer is better: Part of the new assessments related to the Common Core state standards includes taking tests on a computer. Jones' classmate, Cyril Garcia, pointed out that while it was cumbersome to not have scratch paper to write out problems, overall the experience was a good one, and perhaps touchscreen technology could be used in the future to help alleviate the challenge. An advantage of the computer tests is faster results.

3. Teachers get to be creative again: Since the Common Core state standards do not dictate curriculum, students are having some creative experiences in the classroom again. Groups like the National Council of Teachers of English are coming up with ways to help teachers creatively support the goals of the Common Core standards.

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4. Students get to really focus on topics they like: According to the National Education Association, Common Core standards give kids a "deep dive" into concepts and content. The number of content areas has been reduced allowing time to really understand the concepts.

5. It gives everyone a fair chance: It emphasizes the kind of thinking that the National Education Association points out has usually been more available to upper-income, affluent students. Students of all walks of life can now be exposed to the same rigorous standards and ability to be ready for college success.

Vote Here: Is Common Core Good or Bad for Schools?

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