FTF: CCSS/NCTE and Back to School

Back to School ads, articles, and, issues are already in full swing and we’ve just begun August 2015. How’s the CCSS Machine helping? From what I’ve seen, the ‘Machine’ is pumping out plenty of Common Core propaganda. Today’s “From the File Tuesday” is about writing , the NCTE (National Council of Teachers of English), and our schools.

Being the researcher I am, I purchased a BTS (Back to School) issue of a magazine I don’t usually buy. Why? I wanted to see just how much CCSS was hiding in plain sight. The magazine has plenty of ‘busy mom’ articles, colorful ads, all the pointers on how to save big when buying all those needed school supplies, and more. It also has one advertisement that is meant to catch your eye. The ad is selling writing pens AND promoting a ‘mission to save handwriting’. Below is a screen shot of the on-line promotion (the hard copy ad is very similar)On the surface, nothing says Common Core. However, let’s look BELOW the surface, as we’ve learned we MUST when it comes to anything related to modern day classroom related environments.

The Catchy Video:

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0FF0nOVhrDw&w=560&h=315]

The Expert Behind the Scenes:

Bic is getting writing help from Pam Allyn. If you’re not familiar with Mrs. Allyn, here’s what the Bic webpage has to say. “Pam Allyn is the Executive Director and founder of LitWorld, a global organization that shares best practices in literacy for all children worldwide. She is also the Executive Director of LitLife, a national organization dedicated to improving academic achievement outcomes in literacy.”

Allyn’s bio from “LitWorld” reveals the following, “Her most recent series, Core Ready, published in 2013, is a 14-book series focusing on the Common Core Learning Standards.” (to see the rest of her biography from LitWorld {which includes awards she’s received}, http://www.litworld.org/staff/ )

Be sure you access the 2013 “LitWorld” Annual Report. It’s got names of the US writing/reading programs. One that caught my eye is in New York and is called “Story21”, so we can have 21st Century Literacy for the entire family. litworldannualreport2013

NCTE, National Council of Teachers of English:

I first wrote about NCTE back in Feb. 2015. While I didn’t feature them, I did give you how they are related to CCSS. See: https://www.commoncorediva.com/2015/02/22/rmt-witches-brew-ccss-style/

NCTE is a featured resource in the Bic campaign to save writing. The link you are taken to (NCTE’s statement on the importance of handwriting) from the campaign website (Bic’s) expresses a 2004 view of the topic….not a 2015 view (in my opinion, if the view were more current, I think we’d see a much clearer CCSS vernacular). Here’s an excerpt of the 2004 statement, “Just as the nature of and expectation for literacy have changed in the past century and a half, so has the nature of writing. Much of that change has been due to technological developments, from pen and paper, to typewriter, to word processor, to networked computer, to design software capable of composing words, images, and sounds. These developments not only expanded the types of texts that writers produce, they also expanded immediate access to a wider variety of readers. With full recognition that writing is an increasingly multifaceted activity, we offer several principles that should guide effective teaching practice.” See the rest of the statement (goes into embedded social activities, assessments, and more): http://www.ncte.org/positions/statements/writingbeliefs

For a look at NCTE’s “21st Century” Literacy Framework, see:
http://www.ncte.org/positions/statements/21stcentframework

Here’s an excerpt of what’s expected: “Active, successful participants in this 21st century global society must be able to Develop proficiency and fluency with the tools of technology;  Build intentional cross-cultural connections and relationships with others so to pose and solve problems collaboratively and strengthen independent thought; Design and share information for global communities to meet a variety of purposes;  Manage, analyze, and synthesize multiple streams of simultaneous information; Create, critique, analyze, and evaluate multimedia texts; Attend to the ethical responsibilities required by these complex environments.”

When you read the full statement, note how the International Reading Association helped NCTE develop this 21st Century plan. Their tie to CCSS? I found over 400 CCSS documents on their website. See: http://apps.reading.org/search/svc/submitquery?query=common+core+state+standards&advanced=1 

Of particular importance, one document titled “Literacy Implementation Guidance for the ELA Common Core State Standards”, names the IRA’s approved CCSS council members!
See: http://www.reading.org/general/AboutIRA/white-papers/ela-common-core-standards.aspx

To access the Bic’s campaign: http://bicfightforyourwrite.com/take-action
As far as my original question about the CCSS Machine killing writing. I believe it is killing all types of learning in every way it can. Using slick ads, catchy videos, and inserting happy kids into it all is a sham.
Be sure to use “Bic” in front of the ‘Fight for Your Write’, other wise you’ll end up at a ‘steamy’ writers website (featuring books to replace or add to “50 Shades of Grey”).