Calls for shared curricula for the common standards have triggered renewed debates about who decides what students learn, and even about varied meanings of the word "curriculum," adding layers of complexity to the job of translating the broad learning goals into classroom teaching. The most recent calls for common curricula came from the American Federation of Teachers and the Albert Shanker Institute, a think tank named after the late aft leader. Many others are working on pieces of that puzzle--an array of instructional resources for states, districts, and teachers. But the calls for "shared" or "common" curricula have sparked particularly heated conversations. Part of the debate about common curriculum for the standards is driven by the multiple meanings of the word "curriculum." Some observers worry that lack of clarity about the meaning of terms like "curriculum," "frameworks," and "curriculum guidelines" risks muddying a public dialogue about an important issue.