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Common Core Confusion: A Guide to Understanding Your Child's Schoolwork

Find resources to learn more about the Common Core Standards, why they were created, and what it means for your child's education.
common core confusion: a guide to understanding your child's schoolwork
By: Lindsay Hutton

Homework help for parents

So now that you know what these new standards entail, how can you help your child with homework if you don't understand it yourself? For starters, here are 10 free homework help websites geared toward "new math" and Common Core concepts. In addition, here are some other helpful resources.

The CCSSO and NGA offer several resources on www.corestandards.org to help parents understand the standards, explain the key points of both the math and English language arts areas, and answer frequently asked questions.

The National Parent Teacher Association (PTA) offers a printable guide to student success for parents of children grades K-12 who are currently learning the Common Core Standards. It offers an overview of what your child will learn every year and learning activities you can do at home that are in line with the curriculum.

The Council of Great City Schools (CGCS) offers parents a separate printable roadmap for each Standard and grade, and offers tips and ideas to help parents understand what their child is learning.

Slideshare.net allows others to share slideshows and presentations on the Common Core curriculum. Some specific examples include Common Core: Where to Start, and Aligning Curriculum to Common Core.

Some book retailers and children's libraries now note "Supports Common Core Standards" in the description or cataloguing of some children's books. When choosing books to read at home with your child, you might look for ones that support the Common Core.

Finally, www.commonsensemedia.org offers a short list to bring you up to speed on the current debate surrounding the Common Core Standards, arguments from both sides, and resources to understand the basics.

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