Standards Post #3

InTASK Standard 6(m) The teacher knows when and how to engage learners in analyzing their own assessment results and in helping to set goals for their own learning.

For the past several years, my colleagues and I have worked hard to develop summative assessments around units we have created to meet unit goals and state standards. Due to the strong push for differentiated curriculum and the desire to meet the needs of all learners, especially ELL and TAG, it has been important to give pre and post assessments, as well as formative assessments along the way. One thing we have done is to give students the opportunity to do self directed projects related to the units we are studying, if their pretests show that they have 85% of the unit goals met. This allows students to set a goal for their own learning and be responsible for presenting their newly gained knowledge to the class. Another opportunity for the children to analyze their own understanding of content is giving the children who need it, more scaffolded support.  After giving the class instructions and guided practice in a skill, I will ask any students who feel they need more support to meet me in a group, or I will continue to work in front of the class, on the document camera for those who need more support while I  let other students move ahead. I ask students to be willing to risk in order to learn. Setting goals as small as being willing to admit when they need help, will allow students to set goals for their own learning.