New TeacherCurriculum and Instruction

11-5-08

Learning TargetsLaura Chambless

St. Clair County RESA

Discuss the following question:

Why do we give grades?

Come up with two good reasons.

Discuss the following question:

Why do we give tests?

Give one group reason.

Curriculum Instruction + AssessmentEffective Instruction

Where is the starting point?

For effective assessment you need to clarify the

Learning Target

What are learning targets?Learning targets are specific short-term goals which, when combined, lead to the successful completion of a statement. They outline the steps to be followed and the material to be covered if the student is to achieve competence in the more long-term goal: the statement.you need to clarify the

Today’s Learning Targets

1. I can deconstruct content expectations and turn them into student friendly language. Which means I can find the verb and determine what kind of learning target is being is needed.

2. I can make my teaching more intentional and effective. Which means I will use my curriculum and learning targets to guide my instruction, and assessment.

It is hard to hit a target if you can’t see it!

What is intended learning?

The Learning Target

The learning target may also be called:• Content standards• Benchmarks• Grade level expectations• Learning outcomes• Lesson objectives• Learning statements• Essential learning

All the synonyms represent:

The Learning Statements or

Statements of Intended Learning

The Point!

• If we don’t begin with clear statements of intended learning, we won’t end with sound assessments.

The Key

The key to improving student achievement is not looking at how to assess, but focusing instead on WHAT to assess.

How ?

• We should examine whether or not our assessment reflect clear and important learning targets.

• Learning targets are further broken down into sub-targets.

Intentional Teaching

1. Determine our learning targets and define how we should assess them.

2. Plan clear instruction and experiences

3. Combine them to prepare students to know what they need to know and demonstrate their learning.

Intentional Teaching

Means:

All instruction and classroom activities are aimed at specific

learning targets.

5 Research-Based Strategies that Significantly Improve Student

Learning:1. Sharing Criteria (the target)– Clear learning objectives

2. Questioning3. Feedback4. Peer Assessment5. Self-assessment

Teacher Benefits• Know what to assess

– Select appropriate assessments

• Clarity on what instructional activities to plan– Intentional teaching

• Ability to balance “in Depth” with “Coverage”– Knowing your content expectations vs book

• Know What your assessments reflect at a finer grain– Reflects exactly what you will teach and students will learn– Able to use assessments to further learning

Student Benefits• “Students can hit any target they can see that

hold still for them” (Stiggins)

• Teachers explain intended learning in student-friendly terms at the outset of a lesson

• Students write “I can” statements of intended learning

• Statements are posted

What Does This Look Like?

7th grade- making good inference

1. Define the word. The dictionary works well as a starting point, Inference: A conclusion drawn from the information available.

2. Student-friendly language: “I can make good inferences. This means I can use information from what I read to draw a reasonable conclusion.”

You Try One!

Think of a lesson you are teaching tomorrow. Write “I can” statement.

1. Think of the main objective and define the word

2. Rewrite the definition as an “I can” (or an “I am learning to”) statement

3. Share with a colleague next to you

Parent Benefit

• Learning targets can be sent home or posted on website

• Learning targets are already in parent friendly language

• Parents know what and how to help their child

• Understand grades better

Five Learning Targets

• To build clear learning targets we need to understand that there are actually five kinds of learning targets.

1. Knowledge- facts and concepts we want students to know

2. Reasoning – use what they know , reason or solve problems

3. Skills- use knowledge and reasoning to act skillfully

4. Products- use knowledge, reasoning, and skills to create a concrete product

5. Disposition- attitudes about school and learning

United Streaming

• Assessment: Learning Targets and Methods

• Let’s study the green Learning Target handout

Knowledge

6th grade (S.S) GLCE

• Describe the impact of governmental policy (sanctions, tariffs, treaties) on the country and on other countries that use its resources.

Reasoning

8th grade (Math) GLCE

• Solve linear inequalities in one and two variables, and graph the solution set.

Skills

4th grade (ELA) GLCE

• Listen to or view critically while demonstrating appropriate social skills of audience behavior in small and large group settings.

Products

5th grade (Science) GLCE

• Construct charts and graphs from data and observations.

Deconstructing Standards • See Deconstructing Standards Worksheet from

Classroom Assessment for Student Learning

1.Take a look at your GLCE/HSCEs2.Find the verbs – Highlight3.Decide target type4.Write classroom learning targets5.Turn learning targets into student-friendly

language

Students who can identify what they are learning significantly outscore those who cannot.

• Robert Marzano

“Teachers who truly understand what they want their students to accomplish will almost surely be more instructionally successful than teachers whose understanding of hoped-for student accomplishments are murky.”

• W. James Popham

Teaching Schema for Master Learners Handout

Closure

Discuss the following question:

• What did I do to be intentional with your learning tonight?