Urgent: The Academic Standards Committee must finish its revisions by March 29, with the proposal going to the legislature on April 1 (next Tuesday)
Communicate your thoughts to the Academic Standards Committee, the Commissioner, your local legislators, the House and Senate Education Committeesand the Governor

Some things to do when developing your message:
1. Study the draft proposals offered by the Commissioner.
2. Consider your years of experience in the classroom and your academic training for this work.
3. Focus on what is best for students when you identify the pros and cons of the draft
4. Carefully articulate the pros and cons in a succinct (no more than a page or two) letter. Remember your audience is more similar to parents than to colleagues. Select language that would be appropriate for the audience.

Some things not to do when developing your message:
1. Don’t defend your particular curriculum. Talk about what is to learned rather than how it is learned.
2. Don’t just criticize; offer constructive suggestions.
3. Watch your language; statements that are too global may be misinterpreted.
4. Don’t focus on the workload of the teacher.
5. Don’t use your school email account or send email during the school day, even if it is your preparation period.

To communicate your message:
1. Attend one of the remaining public hearings. Your speaking time may be limited to 3 or 4 minutes. It is effective to present a statement from a group signed by all.
2. Send a comment through the CFL website.
on the home page scroll down and you will find:
MORE ABOUT THE STANDARDS, below that is the link called:
Have a comment, question, or idea for the Academic Standards Committee?
Hit that link and it will take you directly to the comment form.
3. Send a letter or email (see #5 above) to your state representative or senator
4. Send a letter to the House and Senate Education Committees.

(Thanks to the Minnesota Council of Teachers of Mathematics for these suggestions)

For other talking points related to the language arts standards.