Ohio House Rules and Reference Committee

Testimony on HB 597 – Opponent August 26, 2014 Ohio House Rules and Reference Committee Representative Matt Huffman, Chair Cara McGregor, Berea Federation of Teachers

Chairman Huffman and members of the Rules and Reference Committee, my name is Cara McGregor. I am a First Grade Teacher in Berea City Schools.

I am here to support the Common Core because I can see firsthand how these standards, the curriculum we have developed in our district, and the broad range of instructional options truly benefit our students. They are given an opportunity to share background knowledge and make connections to what they already know. Having a deeper understanding of content and not looking at learning as the “mile wide, inch deep” mentality will help our students become better problem solvers.

I have been working with our curriculum department and delivering lessons to help my students meet the Common Core Standards. It is my experience that basing our curriculum and instruction on these standards is allowing a much deeper understanding of the content we are teaching than recent previous standards. Rather than having too many standards requiring us to move on whether my students are ready to do so or not, the Common Core allows me to work with my students to assure they have a deeper understanding of concepts which allow them to apply the knowledge and skills they are learning in ways that demonstrate they are truly understanding the material.

In working with my colleagues in other content areas, we are able to design lessons together that are cross-curricular. An example of this would be working with our Music Specialist and sharing our poetry we are using in class each week, and helping the students make connections with the poetry through song and dance. Our art teacher works closely with us and is able to create artwork with our students that will connect what our students are learning in the classroom into their artwork.

Students and parents have responded in a positive manner to the Common Core. It gives our students hands on activities that involve them in their learning, and more importantly, it gives them back the ability to problem solve. The deeper learning and connections our students make to what they are learning breeds a success that will help them to become the best they can be.

The most important piece of education that we as teachers and parents can give to our students is the ability to problem solve. With the Common Core as our standards to follow, we do not have to just check off what we have taught and move on. It allows a thorough understanding from our students and they can articulate their learning through writing, language or drawings. When our students have that “ah-ha” moment in learning, it is the most incredible feeling one can have as a teacher.

As a primary teacher, I have found the Common Core State Standards to spiral, and help my students learn and make connections to what they have already learned. Research will tell you that having students effectively “spiral” back to the known from the unknown concepts helps them to feel success and ultimately build solid background knowledge.

This concludes my testimony and I welcome any questions. Thank you for your time and attention.