Differentiating the Common Core: Establishing the importance of place, population, and politics in creating a relevant and valuable curriculum

This thesis explores the importance of incorporating students' surrounding place, population, and politics into a relevant and valuable curriculum. I frame this analysis with an overview of the benefits and detriments of the recent Educational reform initiative known as the Common Core State Standards (CCSS). Public responses to the standardization of curriculum brought about by the CCSS are presented and reviewed. In line with the significant amount of criticism that has been voiced, I explore the elements missing from the CCSS and offer an appropriately adapted version of one module of fifth grade English Language Arts (ELA) curriculum. Throughout this curriculum I adapt existing lessons to address the place, population, and politics of students in Honolulu, Hawaii and in Poughkeepsie, New York. I use these adapted curricula as well as guiding questions for adaptations in other locations to encourage a meaningful and necessary differentiation of the CCSS.