P.D. Week!

Welcome to Utah Standards Academy........wait wasn't it called "Core Academy?" So today while I was freezing to death (in JUNE) because the hosting school turned their air conditioning up way to high I thought of reason as to why they would change the name. I heard someone say that it was because the word "Core" in the title comes with a bad stigma because of the local attitudes towards the Big Bad Common CORE. I have strong feelings about the ridiculous posts going around about Common Core. While it is not perfect (but really what set of Core Standards is?) I see the potential to expand upon understanding of concepts rather than memorization. If you ever see a crazy Math problem or writing prompt that is linked to Common Core, please do me a favor: Go read the actual standards and find if it actually says to specifically ask those questions. There is a GREAT misunderstanding between the difference of standards and curriculum (which is a local issue.)
..............back to my train of thought...........They changed the name because they didn't want us to expect the bin/tub of awesome manipulatives and resources that they used to give to the grade specific courses! :) This could be very likely. While I miss the fan fare and most of all the single grade courses (3rd and 4th are grouped together) this year I am just grateful for the opportunity to dive deeper into the Core of my new grade! I left today excited to be a 3rd grade teacher! I thought about all of the cool notebooking lessons I could do with fractions and how I was going to help each of my students be successful! Today I feel inspired. A shot in the arm of excitement for my new teaching assignment!
Today I learned a new term that connect to one that I used in my last post! "Functional Knowledge." Knowledge that you understand and can apply to different situations (Last post I talked about "Functional Organization.) I left with the desire to make everyday filled with "functional knowledge" for my students so that they can all feel successful!
I'm hoping that I am as positive at the end of the week of 7 hour classes as I am today! I'm off to pull out my Winter clothes to wear tomorrow so that I don't freeze!