The Warrensburg-Latham School district is working hard to prepare their teachers and administrators for the Common Core Curriculum.

Come the school year 2014-15, Illinois students will be introduced to a new set of learning standards. In preparation of that, schools all over Illinois are beginning to prepare their new curriculum for these standards. Superintendent of Warrensburg-Latham Schools, Kristen Kendrick explains they are seeing changes in just about all academic subjects. In reading and writing for example, she says all subject areas are trying to find ways to incorporate more reading and writing into their subjects.

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In the areas of math, Kendrick says they are seeing various concepts introduced earlier. She believes this is to allow students to have a better understand and grasp on the concepts so when they reach higher levels, they can get to a deeper level of learning.

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A lot of work is going into preparing for these new standards. Kendrick explains currently the Warrensburg-Latham staff is using their school improvement days and various meeting times to prepare for this. She says the common core standards are going to give teachers a better understanding of things their students need to be focused on.

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In giving teachers a better understanding of their students goals, Kendrick says the new common core gives teachers a little more flexibility in helping their students reach those goals. She feels it will allow the teachers to teach to the strengths of the students, as they see fit.

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Kendrick is a supporter of the new common core standards. She feels this is just another re-evaluation of the way things are changing, and adjusting to those changes. While adjusting to the new common core standards is a lot of work, she notes it is very much worth the while.