High school teachers’ perspectives on the English language arts Common Core State Standards: an exploratory study

Abstract

This was an exploratory study that examined high school teachers’ perspectives about their early experiences with the English language arts Common Core State Standards. The sources of data for the study included a survey and structured interviews. Twenty-three high school ELA teachers from one unified school district in Southern California participated in the study. The findings suggested that the teachers wanted to acquire more knowledge about many aspects of the CCSS for ELA. In addition, they perceived that their professional development and curricula materials were inadequate to meet the high standards set in the CCSS. Also, the teachers perceived that they were not ready to teach the ELA CCSS even though they believed that the standards would help students have satisfying personal and professional lives. The implications were discussed, including the need for schools to provide ongoing, high-quality professional development, and research-based, aligned curricula materials for high school ELA teachers. In addition, California and school districts have to make adequate financial investment to support implementation of the CCSS.

Appendix

Survey

Please check the box $(\checkmark )$ that corresponds to your answer.

Section A: Biographical data

Section B: ELA teachers’ knowledge of the ELA Common Core Standards

	Strongly agree	Agree	No opinion	Disagree	Strongly disagree
7. I have a clear understanding of the ELA Common Core State Standards	1	2	3	4	5
8. I have a clear understanding of the difference between the former California ELA standards and ELA Common Core State Standards	1	2	3	4	5
9. I have a clear understanding of alignment of the former California ELA standards with ELA Common Core State Standards	1	2	3	4	5
10. I have a clear understanding of classroom implementation of ELA Common Core State Standards	1	2	3	4	5
11. I have a clear understanding of assessment of ELA Common Core State Standards	1	2	3	4	5
Please, provide examples of the knowledge of ELA CCSS you may have in this box:
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.

Section C: Professional development and training related to English-language arts Common Core Standards

	Strongly agree	Agree	No opinion	Disagree	Strongly disagree
15. The professional development and training for ELA Common Core State Standards were of great quality	1	2	3	4	5
16. The professional development and training prepared me to use the best practices for teaching ELA Common Core State Standards	1	2	3	4	5
17. The professional development addressed alignment between former California ELA standards and ELA Common Core Standards	1	2	3	4	5
18. The training prepared me to teach college and career reading standards for literature	1	2	3	4	5
19. The training prepared me to teach college and career reading standards for information text	1	2	3	4	5
20. The training prepared me to teach college and career readiness anchor standards for writing	1	2	3	4	5
21. The training prepared me to teach college and career anchor standards for speaking and listening	1	2	3	4	5
22. The professional development prepared me to teach college and career readiness anchor standards for language	1	2	3	4	5
23. The professional development prepared me to teach language progressive skills	1	2	3	4	5
24. The training prepared me to teach text complexity	1	2	3	4	5
25. The training prepared me to collaborate with colleagues to teach ELA Common Core State Standards	1	2	3	4	5
26. The training prepared me to use specific strategies to teach ELA Common Core State Standards to specific student groups (e.g., ELLs)	1	2	3	4	5
27. The professional development prepared me to adapt assessment to ELA Common Core State Standards	1	2	3	4	5
28. The training prepared me to use grade-level appropriate curricula materials and textbooks	1	2	3	4	5
29. The professional development prepared me to use grade-level appropriate technology	1	2	3	4	5
Please, provide additional information relating to how professional development and training in your school has prepared you to teach ELA Common Core State Standards:
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.

Section D: Curricula materials and textbooks for teaching ELA Common Core Standards

	Strongly agree	Agree	No opinion	Disagree	Strongly disagree
30. I need access to ELA Common Core State Standards curricula materials and textbooks	1	2	3	4	5
31. ELA Common Core State Standards textbooks allow me to make choices of WHAT to teach	1	2	3	4	5
32. ELA Common Core State Standards textbooks allow me to make choices of HOW to teach	1	2	3	4	5
33. I need more information on how to align the former California standards with ELA Common Core State Standards	1	2	3	4	5
34. I need more information about ELA Common Core State Standards curriculum	1	2	3	4	5
35. I need more training in using technology and digital media to teach ELA Common Core State Standards	1	2	3	4	5
36. I need more training to help my students read high-quality texts closely and critically	1	2	3	4	5
37. I need more training to guide my students to use research-based strategies when reading complex texts	1	2	3	4	5
38. I need more time to collaborate with my peers on ELA Common Core State Standards	1	2	3	4	5
39. I need more professional development activities on assessment of students	1	2	3	4	5
Please, specify other resources you may need to teach ELA Common Core State Standards below:
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.

Section E: Readiness to implement English language arts Common Core Standards

	Very prepared	Somewhat prepared	No opinion	Somewhat not prepared	Not at all prepared
40. I have the knowledge and skills to teach ELA Common Core State Standards to all students	1	2	3	4	5
41. I am prepared to teach ELA Common Core State Standards to English Language Learners	1	2	3	4	5
42. I am prepared to teach ELA Common Core State Standards to gifted and talented (GATE) students	1	2	3	4	5
43. I am prepared to teach ELA Common Core State Standards to students with disabilities	1	2	3	4	5
44. I am prepared to teach ELA Common Core State Standards to students from low-income families	1	2	3	4	5
45. I have aligned my curriculum with ELA Common Core State Standards	1	2	3	4	5
46. I have incorporated ELA Common Core State Standards into my teaching practice	1	2	3	4	5
47. My school is prepared to implement ELA Common Core State Standards	1	2	3	4	5
48. My school district is prepared to implement ELA Common Core State Standards	1	2	3	4	5
49. California is prepared to implement ELA Common Core State Standards	1	2	3	4	5
50. My school is prepared to provide support for teachers to implement ELA Common Core State Standards	1	2	3	4	5
51. My school provides instructional resources that align with ELA Common Core State Standards	1	2	3	4	5
52. My school provides textbooks that align with ELA Common Core State Standards	1	2	3	4	5
53. My school provides access to technology and digital media to teach ELA Common Core State Standards	1	2	3	4	5
54. My school provides staff support to teach ELA Common Core State Standards	1	2	3	4	5
Please, write in the box other ways you think you are ready to implement the ELA CCSS:
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.

Section F: Teachers’ attitude to teaching English language arts Common Core Standards

	Strongly agree	Agree	No opinion	Disagree	Strongly disagree
55. ELA Common Core State Standards allow me to determine how I will help my students meet the Standards within my school setting	1	2	3	4	5
56. ELA Common Core State Standards will better help me improve my instruction	1	2	3	4	5
57. ELA Common Core State Standards provide a tool to teach knowledge and skills that are important to my students	1	2	3	4	5
58. ELA Common Core State Standards provide me strategies to teach students to critically and analytically read literature texts	1	2	3	4	5
59. Today’s knowledge economy requires me to teach students the knowledge and skills imbedded in ELA Common Core State Standards	1	2	3	4	5
60. ELA Common Core State Standards allow me to teach my students to synthesize ideas from multiple sources	1	2	3	4	5
61. ELA Common Core State Standards allow me to connect instruction to students’ agency (e.g. interests, capabilities, abilities, practices, etc.)	1	2	3	4	5
62. ELA Common Core State Standards allow me to prepare students to have more satisfying personal lives	1	2	3	4	5
63. ELA Common Core State Standards allow me to prepare students to have more productive professional lives	1	2	3	4	5
64. ELA Common Core State Standards allow me to promote students’ active engagement with complex texts	1	2	3	4	5
65. ELA Common Core State Standards allow me to teach students to have fun while at the same time engaged and hard-working in my class	1	2	3	4	5
Please, write below other aspects of your attitude to teaching ELA Common Core State Standards:
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.

Interview questions

• (1) What is your philosophy of English language arts (ELA) instruction?

• (2) What are your views about the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) for ELA?

• (3) What are your views regarding the implementation of the CCSS for ELA in your school?

• (4) Comment on whether or not the CCSS for ELA will help you improve your instruction of English language arts and classroom practices.

• (5) Describe your views of the professional development activities specifically on the CCSS for ELA (if any) that you have received in your school.

• (6) Please, describe your readiness to teach the CCSS for ELA.

• (7) What are your views about the notion that the CCSS will guide your instruction and help you deliver a high-quality education for students in ELA?

• (8) Comment on the instructional resources (if any) in your school that will help you implement the CCSS for ELA effectively?

• (9) Comment on whether or not the CCSS for ELA will help you prepare your students to be college or career ready.

• (10) What challenges (if any) do you have in implementing the CCSS for ELA in your school?

• (11) What opportunities (if any) have the CCSS given you as an ELA teacher?

• (12) Please, comment on any aspects of the CCSS for ELA that may not have been covered in this interview questions.