Revolutionizing Education

Background

• 1.

  Common Core Curriculum Standards: The Common Core Curriculum State Standards refers to a high-quality of academic standards in the area of English Language Arts Literacy. The standers collectively outline the learning goals of pertinent concepts knowledge and foundational levels that student should be able to master at the end of each grade level. Through the collaborative efforts of educators, chief school administrators as well as other experts in the field of education, the Common Core provides a framework for educators and heavily emphasizes college and career readiness for students. The standards also focus on the application of content knowledge through the development of higher order thinking skills.

• 2.

  Culturally Relevant Resource: A contributing factor to the foundation and development of an individual’s culture indicative of shared realities and lived experiences that is central to students lives. A culturally relevant resource reflects the diversity of the student population within a given classroom and is used as a critical tool by which to create equitable learning experiences, introduce concepts and ideas to students while demonstrating appreciation, respect and value of their culture as well as assist the process of reframing perspectives.

• 3.

  Curriculum: In the context of this study, the term curriculum refers to an in-depth instructional guide incorporating all educational foundations, standards and benchmarks relevant to the sixth grade level within a sequential order, inclusive of all resources and materials necessary for educators to successfully implement lessons. The curriculum is a detailed plan of instruction with categorical elements that define learning experiences and opportunities as well as multiple measures of assessment for students.