Understanding the Common Core State Standards for Mathematics: A Parent's Guide

The Common Core State Standards (CCSS) for Mathematics were developed to provide a clear and consistent framework to prepare students for college and career success. These standards outline what students should know and be able to do at each grade level, ensuring a cohesive and rigorous math education across states. 

These standards are not a curriculum, but rather a guide for what should be taught. 

Before the Common Core, each state had its own set of math standards, leading to significant discrepancies in student learning and preparedness. The CCSS were designed to: 

• Ensure that students across all states receive a high-quality math education, no matter where they live. 

• Set higher expectations for math skills so students are more confident and capable in solving problems. 

• Equip students with the math knowledge and critical thinking skills they need to succeed in college, careers, and everyday life. 

Some parents have expressed concerns about Common Core Math, often due to unfamiliar teaching methods. However, these methods are designed to deepen understanding and build a strong mathematical foundation.  

Test questions should reflect real-world applications and involve a degree of problem-solving, rather than just routine calculations. 

Standardized math tests such as the MAP Test, STAR Test, iReady Test, FastBridge Test, and ERB CTP Test commonly assess students' understanding of the CCSSM. 

Additionally, all standardized state tests incorporate these standards to measure student proficiency and growth in mathematics. These assessments evaluate not just rote memorization but also conceptual understanding and problem-solving abilities. 

• Focus on understanding: Encourage your child to explain how they got an answer, and not just what the answer is. Ask them questions like, "Why did you do it that way?" or "Can you explain this to me in your own words?". 

• Use real-world examples: Connect maths concepts to everyday situations, such as cooking, shopping, or building. This helps make maths more relevant and engaging for children. 

• Encourage perseverance: Maths problems can be challenging, and that's okay. Teach your child to persevere, try different approaches, and learn from mistakes. 

• Embrace different methods: Be open to different strategies your child might use, even if they aren’t the methods you're familiar with. The standards promote flexibility in problem-solving. 

• Use available resources: There are many online and offline resources to support your children's math learning. TestPrep-Online has lots of resources that are aligned with the standards. 

• Make it a positive experience: Approach maths with a positive attitude. Avoid saying things like, "I was never good at maths." Your attitude can influence your child's perception of maths. 

The standards are organised by grade level and domain (or topic area). Here’s a breakdown of the key areas of focus for each level: 

• Early Childhood (Kindergarten): Instructional time should focus on representing and operating on whole numbers, initially with sets of objects, and describing shapes and space, with more time devoted to number concepts. Students should use numbers to represent quantities and solve quantitative problems, including modelling simple joining and separating situations. Students will also begin to work with numbers 11–19 to gain foundations for place value. 

• Grade 1: The focus is on developing an understanding of addition, subtraction, and related strategies. Students learn to represent and solve problems involving addition and subtraction and understand place value. They also learn to measure lengths and tell time. 

• Grade 2: The emphasis is on extending understanding of base-ten notation and building fluency with addition and subtraction. Students work with multi-digit numbers up to 1000 and learn to measure lengths in standard units. They will also begin to explore the foundations of multiplication with equal groups of objects. 

• Grade 3: Instruction focuses on developing an understanding of multiplication and division, fractions (especially unit fractions), and the structure of rectangular arrays. Students begin to use place value to perform multi-digit arithmetic and develop an understanding of fractions as numbers. 

• Grade 4: The critical areas are developing fluency with multi-digit multiplication and understanding division, as well as building an understanding of fraction equivalence and operations. Students will work with multi-digit whole numbers and begin to understand decimal notation for fractions. 

• Grade 5: The focus is on developing fluency with addition and subtraction of fractions and understanding the multiplication and division of fractions. Students also extend division to 2-digit divisors, integrate decimal fractions, and develop an understanding of operations with decimals. 

• Grade 6: Students will connect ratio and rate to multiplication and division and use these concepts to solve problems. They will also complete their understanding of division of fractions and extend the notion of number to include negative numbers. Other areas of focus include writing, interpreting, and using expressions and equations. 

• Grade 7: Instruction time is focused on developing an understanding of proportional relationships and applying them to solve real-world problems. Students will also unify their understanding of numbers, including fractions, decimals, and percentages. They will apply operations to all rational numbers 

• Grade 8: The focus is on formulating and reasoning about expressions and equations, including modelling an association in bivariate data with a linear equation. Students will also learn about irrational numbers. 

• High School: The standards focus on Number and Quantity, Algebra, Functions, Modelling, Geometry, and Statistics and Probability, with modelling being a key component across these areas. 

The Common Core State Standards are not just about getting the right answers; they're about developing the ability to think critically, solve problems creatively, and apply mathematical knowledge to real-world situations. This kind of mathematical understanding will be essential for your children’s success in college, careers, and life. 

By understanding the goals of the CCSSM and working with your children to develop mathematical understanding, you can make maths a less intimidating and more rewarding subject for the whole family. 

For additional support, consider purchasing a test prep pack from TestPrep Online. Practicing together with your child can help you both understand the format of standardized tests and assess how well they fare on different types of questions. This can be a great way to build confidence and identify areas where additional focus is needed. 

Here are some practical guidelines for parents who want to help their children with math, organized by grade level: 

For more practice questions, try our Rennaissance Star sample question page before you buy the early years test prep pack.

We have a comprehensive 3rd Grade Math Test Prep Pack. You will find study guides and hundreds of questions to keep your 3rd grader engaged.

This is the type of skill tested by the 3rd grade MAP Test.

You can also find this type of question in the iReady Math test. 

• Be Positive and Encouraging: A positive attitude toward math can greatly influence a child's confidence and learning. 

• Make it Fun: Use games, puzzles, and real-world examples to make learning math enjoyable. 

• Focus on Understanding: Help your child understand the "why" behind the math, not just the "how". 

• Use Visual Aids: Visual models such as drawings and diagrams can help children grasp concepts. 

• Encourage Mathematical Practices: Promote problem-solving, reasoning, and using appropriate tools. 

• Communicate Clearly: Encourage your child to use clear definitions and precise language when explaining math concepts. 

• Connect Math to Other Subjects: Show how math is connected to science, art, and other areas of learning. 

• Be Patient: Learning takes time and practice. Celebrate progress, and be patient with challenges. 

• Use Technology: Explore educational apps and websites for extra practice and fun learning experiences. 

These guidelines are based on the math standards for elementary school. They emphasize building a strong foundation in number sense, operations, geometry, measurement, and problem-solving. Remember to adapt these guidelines to your child's specific needs and learning style.