During the past summer, 15,000 educators from across the Golden State gathered in 31 locations to discuss Common Core implementation in California. An article from EdSource, published online, asked for opinions from teachers who attended the Common Core Summit to speak on various aspects of the transition to the new curriculum, as well as their takeaways from the summit itself, including changes that are being made instructionally due to the Common Core transition, and what teachers learned that they can transfer to their classroom practice.

If you want to hear from the teachers themselves, the article included brief recorded interviews of teachers who attended, and these interviews definitely were engaging to listen to and offered a unique opportunity to hear from teachers in various districts and at all levels speak to the new curriculum. The event was coordinated by the California State University, the New Teacher Center, as association of California’s private, independent colleges, and it was funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Although the keynote speakers were shared via technology to all sites, most of the day was spent in breakout sessions at each site that covered a wide array of topics, selected and brainstormed by the teacher attendees themselves. This meant the learning for the day was self-directed and collaborative, which was a model for Common Core strategies embedded within the design of the day’s learning. Teachers were able to share resources for online games, online reading databases, and methods for incorporating technology into Common Core lessons. They also were able to troubleshoot strategies to encourage cooperative learning, critical thinking, and problem solving skills. Many teachers expressed satisfaction with the day, and the idea that teachers possess the expertise to share strategies, develop knowledge, and expand capacity together with other educators is a professional development–and Common Core strategy–that should be continued.

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