My Take on the Common Core

As a teacher of middle school math

With change, I sincerely agreed.

Our students were weak in their skills

Our curriculum sorely in need.

On top of the shortfalls at home

The fact that was also a shame –

When students moved into our town

Their skill sets were never the same.

To conceive of a nationwide plan

Was brilliant (and way overdue)

But putting it into effect

Was commonly difficult too!

I love what the Core tries to do –

Develop a much deeper hold

Of concepts kids need to advance,

Discover instead of be told.

To process what they need to know,

To build on a base grade by grade.

I wish we had time to explore

Foundations once bases are laid.

Though claims were they’d lighten the load

Of concepts we needed to teach,

We still have an ocean of thoughts,

A target we don’t always reach.

The tests, though the questions are great,

Have issues to fix as we go.

By staggering test-taking times

Some takers can share what they know.

But trust me, I favor the Core,

The best set of standards by far

We just need to work out the kinks.

Let’s raise and not lower the bar.

This is my "review" for NaPoWriMo.net. This is our second to the last day to celebrate National Poetry Month.