"The Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts Instruction in Grades 6-12"

Question: It says that the Common Core State Standards are from 2010. Is that the newest edition, or has it been updated since then? If not, will it be updated again soon?

A relief that I find with the standards is that it does not come off as strict as I originally thought that it would be. The reading states that it does not dictate "what" I use or "how" I get to the goals that I need to get to with the standards. Where it seems I will run into most trouble is adapting to the curriculum that is already set at the school. Schools and teachers will already know what needs to be taught and will teach the same things over and over regardless of the type of students that are in their classroom. I hope I will be able to find ways to break out of that mold and teach to help students specifically in my room rather than going with what has worked in the past. Of course, this is easier said than done.

Another problem that will come with teaching is trying to teach in the 21st century. I already feel the struggles of teaching in the 21st century even as a student teacher. A majority of the Students are bored of powerpoints and taking notes on paper and reading from books. Reading about the examples that other students used to implement technology and new ways of teaching and hearing more will help me be more prepared to do it on my own. Having the students make Youtube videos and role play through forums on topics that are important and interesting to them were really good examples of what can be done in the 21st century. I have had to do things like this in my college classes and would love to see it more in secondary classes. My mentor teacher is even having students make videos on gods and goddesses from Greek mythology to get the children more involved in what they are learning.

Side Note: Teaching to the test is the worst.

What is important is that I make sure that I, as a teacher, make the curriculum my own and cater it to my students. It will be difficult to juggle all the things that the chapter has discussed: school's curriculum, standards, 21st-century teaching, diversity, poverty, and much more. It is something that I will have to learn and prepare for so I can do my best once I become a teacher and have 100s of students to help with their education.