I am very fortunate at my school to have an administrator who is an expert on how learning targets should be created and used in the classroom. We have spent time as a campus working collaboratively to determine what the best targets have in them and how to use them effectively in the classroom. I believe that my students are better learners when they know what to expect. I know that in my own professional development, I am better able to attend to the learning at hand when I know what my end result with be. I see the benefit of having that target in mind along the way to use as my guide and help me determine where I am in relation to that target. I want the same for my students. I believe they are better equipped to focus on what is to be learned when they aren't worrying about what is coming up next and how it affects them personally.
This week (Monday and Tuesday) my fourth graders will take their state assessment in writing. What will my learning target look like? I am still thinking about that one. I have 13+ hours to figure that one out. :)
Do you post learning targets in your classroom? If so, what do those targets look like?
Sincerely,
Tara Reed
As our district is working towards proficiency based learning I am working on posting learning targets. Sometimes it feels like one more thing I have to do. But I see my kids are more focused when the target is clear. Or course, I am a work in progress. One day last week I posted a learning target and ended up teaching something completely different because I realized it is what the kids needed at the moment.
ReplyDeleteAs our district is working towards proficiency based learning I am working on posting learning targets. Sometimes it feels like one more thing I have to do. But I see my kids are more focused when the target is clear. Or course, I am a work in progress. One day last week I posted a learning target and ended up teaching something completely different because I realized it is what the kids needed at the moment.
ReplyDeleteA very hot topic in my district these days, your post immediately caught my eye. I love how you describe the journey of your own inquiry to uncover critical attributes of learning targets. I do post targets for the professional development that I lead as well as the model lessons I demonstrate. Schools seem to have their own system and style. Mine usually sound something like "Today, we will learn...how, where, why..." and of course, this is only the beginning.
ReplyDeleteSharing learning expectations with our students is extremely important. I also like sharing expectations for social/emotional learning. When they know what to expect there is less confusion and no surprises.
ReplyDeleteSharing learning expectations with our students is extremely important. I also like sharing expectations for social/emotional learning. When they know what to expect there is less confusion and no surprises.
ReplyDeleteHave never used the term 'learning targets'. Is it like Essential Questions? I have the Essential Questions for each unit with my students so they know what they need to be sure they are learning. This is especially important when it is a wide open inquiry unit. They can figure out the path, but need to be sure they can answer the questions to demonstrate their understanding.
ReplyDeleteKristi Lonheim - so the learning target is something the child can look at and know that this is what you are doing. I post the target and some EQs to go with. For example, if we are learning about inferring, I might post "I can use my schema and clues from my text to make an inference." Then I would post an EQ like "How will I know if I am inferring or guessing?" or "What will I do if I am unsure how to use my schema to make an inference?" Something like that... :)
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