For the almost four years I’ve been writing this blog, I’ve periodically shared my concerns about developing national standards. I’ve feared that people were over-estimating its impact on the classroom (where, in fact, I think it’s more like callers to talk radio feeling like they’re actually doing something about a problem). And I’ve been concerned that it was a boondoggle for publishers and testing services salivating at the prospect of selling new textbooks and tests.

But the Common Core Standards train has long left the station, and that fight is lost.

However, we can still try to minimize its negative impact. To that end, I thought I’d bring together a few resources that I’ve found helpful in gaining an understanding of what Common Core might mean.

Please feel free to share additional suggestions.

Here are my choices for The Best Articles Sharing Concerns About Common Core Standards:

What Common Core State Standards are — and aren’t by Valerie Strauss at The Washington Post

Testing the Common Core Standards, also by Valerie Strauss. She has also written The problem(s) with the Common Core standards.

The Common Core: Policy Triumph or Commercial Bonanza? by Nancy Flanagan at Ed Week.

Will National Standards Improve Education? is a useful New York Times forum.

Common Core Standards: Hardly an Evidence-based Policy by Larry Cuban.

National Standards a Wild Goose Chase by Anthony Cody at Ed Week.

David Cohen has a very thoughtful post titled Common Core Confusion. Be sure to read the comments, too.

Common Core Confusion – ASCD Edition is by David B. Cohen.

Jeffrey N. Golub: Common Core Standards Leave Teachers Out of the Equation is from Ed Week.

Good riddance to new national standards is by Jay Mathews at The Washington Post.

Choking on the Common Core Standards is by Joanne Yatvin and appeared in The Washington Post.

Common Core won’t likely boost student achievement, analysis says is from Valerie Strauss at The Washington Post.

Common Core: David Coleman is no Doug Lemov… is by Alice Mercer.

Why Common Core Standards Will Fail is by Larry Cuban.

Standardization: From Carnegie Units to Common Core Standards is a guest post at Larry Cuban’s blog.

Why Common Core standards will fail is by Jay Mathews at The Washington Post.

These Are The Standards We Should Focus On: “The Core Standards That Matter Most in My Classroom”

Teacher: One (maddening) day working with the Common Core is from The Washington Post.

Does the Common Core Matter? appeared in Education Week.

The Common Core: The Technocrats Re-engineer Learning is by Anthony Cody.

Common Core standards drive wedge in education circles is from USA Today.

Yong Zhao Interview: Will the Common Core Create World-Class Learners? appeared in Anthony Cody’s blog at Education Week.

Common Sense Vs. Common Core: How to Minimize the Damages of the Common Core is by Yong Zhao.

My View of the Common Core Standards is by Diane Ravitch.

Common Core vs. Common Sense appeared in Education Week.

Five Questions to Ask about the Common Core is by Yong Zhao (and here’s a follow-up by him).

A tough critique of Common Core on early childhood education is from The Washington Post.

Speaking Back to the Common Core is by Thomas Newkirk.

Common Core: Will it hurt struggling readers? is by Laura Robb.

Common Core supporter: ‘I see the opportunity being squandered’ is by Stephen Lazar.

Additional suggestions are welcome.

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You might also want to explore the over 600 other “The Best…” lists I’ve compiled.