Common Core arose from broad recognition that children were not retaining their learning. Its solution, however, was for students to learn different material–math and English more advanced and better arranged-and adults would declare their learning satisfactory or not. It did not address why children lost their learning in the first place and did not alter the instructional patterns that produced current results.

This book examines the aim of Common Core and how the structure of U.S. education has limited its potential; why many states, district administrators, teachers, and parents oppose it, and the changes that might help to set it back on track. At issue are how standards can be made an inspiration or their drawbacks can be a liability; how teachers can implement a few powerful motivational conditions in any classroom to spur learning; how they can readily find out the ongoing knowledge students actually possess without relying on high stakes tests, and the universally effective learning method teachers use but seldom arrange for students.