Core 4: student reflection & ownership

Mastering the ability to reflect opens the door for students to become self-directed learners. Once students have learned to set and track goals, they can develop more advanced skills such as prioritization of tasks and creation of their own schedules. Student agency is at the heart of this development. Teachers and school leaders can provide students with opportunities to make autonomous choices as a way to develop ownership. This may start simply, such as providing students a choice in which assignments to complete first. Teachers can build on this foundation by providing students with opportunities to select from a variety of projects or allowing students to choose how to demonstrate their learning. Through all of these experiences, students are given valuable opportunities to make choices and lead their own learning while teachers act as mentors and coaches.