Students need to be aware of the purpose of the learning - both in whole group activities and individualize learning. Students should be challenge by something bit to work for. Explicitly-stated learning goals give students a way to think and talk about what they have learned. They make it easier for students to “know what they know” and give students a language to communicate what they know to others. Can you break down the goal into learning targets? Let students know where they are on that continuum and where they need to be.
I came across a quote by the philosopher Seneca once said (I'll be honest...I don't know this philosopher, but I liked the quote)😄, “If one does not know to which port one is sailing, no wind is favorable.” When you know where you are headed, you can more easily get there.
Before you make that transition in class and begin teaching the next subject, make sure you and students are clear on the goals for learning. As Marzano states, "If teachers aren't sure of instructional goals, their instructional activities will not be focused, and unfocused instructional activities do not engender student learning." (Marzano, 2009)
Weekly Tidbits
- SWBAT: Communicating Learning Goals - Check out this Teaching Channel video for an simple and effective way to communicate learning goals to your students.
- Infinite Campus Updates - Have you heard that Infinite Campus will again be changing? Starting in January, ALL teachers will need to use Gradebook Beta. The old grade book will not be available after that. The two are not much different, but I would suggest you start using it now so midyear changes don't affect you. See some of the changes in this document made my instructional coach, Karissa Fischer.
- DreamBox Interactive Videos - DreamBox has some great videos to help you understand how the program works and how to manage it with your students. earn about the First Day on DreamBox, Teacher Dashboard Summary Report, Primary and Intermediate Learning Environments, Tracking Usage, and Notifications for Time in Lesson