Throughout the country, there has been a lot of handwringing over the new Common Core Mathematics Standards. In particular, there’s concern over whether introducing new ways to solve problems makes math unnecessarily difficult. A recent article in The Atlantic explained the new requirements and why they might be encumbering students. The authors write, “The Common Core […]
Throughout the country, there has been a lot of handwringing over the new Common Core Mathematics Standards. In particular, there’s concern over whether introducing new ways to solve problems makes math unnecessarily difficult. A recent article in The Atlantic explained the new requirements and why they might be encumbering students. The authors write, “The Common Core math standards…take understanding to a whole new level. ‘Students who lack understanding of a topic may rely on procedures too heavily,’ states the Common Core website. ‘But what does mathematical understanding look like?’ And how can teachers assess it? One way is to ask the student to justify, in a way that is appropriate to the student’s mathematical maturity, why a particular mathematical statement is true, or where a mathematical rule comes from. The underlying assumption here is that if a student understands something, he or she can explain it—and that deficient explanation signals deficient understanding. But this raises yet another question: What constitutes a satisfactory explanation?”
In New York State, more than 200,000 students opted out of the Common Core exams. At the high school level, Common Core standards have been introduced into the English and Math Regents exams. In 2014, the New York State Education Department began offering a Common Core Algebra I Regents exam. This year it introduced the Common Core geometry, Algebra II and English Language Arts exams. On the math Regents tests, schools have seen a drop in students’ test scores because of the new standards. And high school students can not opt out of the Regents exams because they’re required for graduation.
Some students will be taking or retaking the Algebra I Regents exam on January 28, 2016 (you can find the complete 2016 January Regents Exam Schedule here). While the NYS website offers some Algebra I practice exams, students may need a bit more Regents prep to get through the exam.
In response to the increasing demand for January Regents prep courses, Long Island Regents Prep has decided to offer an Algebra I Regents Review class on Sunday, January 17, at Farmingdale State College. Come join us! You can register now online by visiting www.liregentsprep.com.
Below is the schedule for the January 2015 Regents Exams. Good luck! Monday, January 26 – 9:15 a.m. Living Environment English Language Arts (Common Core) RCT in Global Studies Monday, January 26 – 1:15 p.m. Comprehensive English Algebra I (Common Core) Physical Setting/Physics Tuesday, January 27 – 9:15 a.m. Regents in Global History and Geography […]
Below is the schedule for the January 2015 Regents Exams. Good luck!
Next week, New York State will introduce students to two new Regents exams, the Common Core exams in Algebra and English Language Arts (ELA). The Common Core standards movement has swept the country over the past few years, and the initiative claims to emphasize “the knowledge and skills students should gain throughout their K-12 education […]
Next week, New York State will introduce students to two new Regents exams, the Common Core exams in Algebra and English Language Arts (ELA). The Common Core standards movement has swept the country over the past few years, and the initiative claims to emphasize “the knowledge and skills students should gain throughout their K-12 education in order to graduate high school prepared to succeed in entry-level careers, introductory academic college courses, and workforce training programs.” The standards, however, are not without controversy, as states and school districts rush to implement and test standards that have not been thoroughly vetted and piloted. Students and parents, already facing a battery of standardized tests each school year, have a right to be apprehensive about the new Regents exams. The silver lining appears to be the fact that NYS plans to keep its old Regents passing rates for the near future. According to The Poughkeepsie Journal, “The state Education Department plans to set the scoring so that roughly the same percentage of students will pass the tests as in the past…. The class of 2022 — this year’s fourth-graders, who will enter high school in 2018 — will be the first to have to survive the full Common Core challenge. Those students will have to notch higher passing scores on their Regents exams, comparable to a 75 in ELA and an 80 in math.”
That should bring a bit of relief to students fretting about the June 3rd exams, but many teachers, students, and parents are still unsure of what to expect next week. But, for those students taking the NYS Regents Exams that begin on June 17, check out liregentsprep.wpengine.com for Regents Prep Classes and links to free Regents review materials. Good luck!
