Unwrapping the Standards to Develop Learning Targets

• I can unwrap a standard.

• I can create a learning target.

• I can identify appropriate learning targets.

How does this impact you?

NC Educator Evaluation

• Standard III (a): Teachers know the content they teach • Standard IV (a,b,g & h): Teachers facilitate learning for their students

Why Unwrap the Standards?

Unwrapping a standard is done to develop a deeper understanding of the standard for planning, instruction, and assessment.

The analysis of standards and indicators to determine exactly what students need to: •

Know

(concepts) •

Be able to do

(skills) •

Through

particular context or topic (selected learning activities)

Unwrapping Template Handout

Helpful Hints...

• Use the unpacking guides to help you, especially with the Essential Standards • Collaborate with team members to ensure understanding of the standard’s demands

Learning Targets

“The most effective teaching and the most meaningful student learning happen when teachers design the right learning target for today’s lesson and use it along with their students to aim for and assess understanding.” Moss & Brookhart

Learning Target...

• Describes intended learning outcome • Guides student learning • Specific to the day’s lesson • Written in “student-friendly” language • Written from the NC SCOS

Informs Your Decision Making

• Guides you every mile and turn.

• Uses language you understand to get you to exactly where you need to go.

• Knows exactly where you are.

• Alerts you to the challenges ahead and provides strategies to help you deal with them.

• Doesn’t “grade” your driving - it “recalculates”.

Creates a Learning Partnership • • • Cannot do the driving for you, but it monitors your progress and feeds you forward.

Only works when you are actually doing something - using its insights and information to drive more effectively toward your destination.

You have to continually self-assess ~ monitor your driving against the criteria provided to make sure you are on the right track.

What Information Does It Need to Work Effectively?

Characteristics of a Learning Target • Describes exactly what student’s will learn in today’s lesson.

• Written in kid-friendly language that students can understand.

• From the point of view of students who have yet to master the content, skill or process that makes up the target.

• Is connected to the performance of understanding from today’s lesson.

For Today’s Lesson!

Learning targets have an expiration date they are only good for one-two lessons.

Supports our Students...

• What will I be able to do at the end of today’s lesson?

• What will I have to learn and understand so that I can use this information to do it?

• How will I be asked to show that I can do it?

• How well will I have to do it?

Learning Targets

• Come directly from the standard, not a direct restatement of the standard • Begin with “I can...” • Only for one-two lessons • Written in student-friendly language • Need to be measurable

Posted Learning Targets

Non-negotiable: All classrooms will be provided with a learning targets poster.

Learning Targets Need to Be...

• Posted daily • Shared with students before each lesson • Revisited at the end of each lesson • Visible from anywhere in the classroom

DCS Learning Targets

http://bit.ly/dcswiki

Learning targets have been created for most standards. Refer to DCS Wiki to find targets.

Middle & High Targets

Wiki

“Learning targets make the difference, from a student’s point of view, between complying with teachers’ requests and pursuing their own learning.” Moss & Brookhart

Overall Smart Goal: By 2015, 100% of teachers at _____ will effectively implement the North Carolina Standard Course of Study with the aid of learning targets posted for students in all classrooms.

Target Smart Goal: By 2014, ___ % of teachers at ___ will effectively implement the North Carolina Standard Course of Study with the aid of learning targets posted for students in all classrooms.

Overall Student Smart Goal: By 2014, _______ of our students will master the learning target as evidence through common formative assessments.