Charting a Course for North Kingstown Student Learning

Purpose of our Work

The North Kingstown School Department has undertaken an effort to establish a district-wide Vision of a Learner, in order to clearly identify the essential skills, learning progressions, and performance outcomes that ALL students must demonstrate in order to show readiness for college and career. These skills are not aligned to a particular grade level, nor do they exist within independent content areas, but rather they apply broadly across all disciplines, and they must be practiced and honed over the entirety of the student experience. The Vision of a Learner Design Team is made up of a variety of North Kingstown stakeholders, including administrators, teachers, students, parents, and community partners.

The Vision of the Learner at Work in NK!

For the 25-26 school year, we are excited to introduce the Vision of the Learner in our schools and classrooms. Throughout this year, teachers will gain an understanding of the skills and progressions, how they apply to their content area and grade level, and what the strengths and needs are. In addition, teachers will look for opportunities to embed VoL learning progressions into their classroom instruction. They will search for ways to enhance the student experience by connecting classroom activities, tasks and projects to identified skills. Students will begin to identify the VoL skills, and to connect them with specific learning tasks. Students will also reflect upon their individual strengths and areas of improvement, relative to the skills.

In the section below, we will be sharing images and descriptions of how the VoL is brought to life in our schools and classrooms. We are excited to showcase the student learning opportunities that empower students to apply what they learn, demonstrate their skills, and take ownership of their growth and progress. Enjoy!

Hamilton Students are "Hands-On" with the Vision of the Learner

As part of their "Villages" project, Hamilton 5th graders are learning about the Eastern Woodland and Nez Perce Native American tribes. For this project, they learned about each tribe's culture, history, and customs. They also took their learning further by making connections between each tribe's unique characteristics and their geography. Finally, they created this beautiful model of each tribe, which captured the unique features and the connections to the physical environment. Students were able to express details about each tribe, while also providing detailed analysis that were closely aligned to the Vision of the Learner skills.

Nez Perce Display

Eastern Woodlands Display

Vision of the Learner Connection

Hamilton 5th grade students worked collaboratively to create a visual model, representing the Eastern Woodland and Nez Perce Native American tribes.

This task included the following connections to the Vision of the Learner skills and subskills:

Communicate to Express- Listen and Contribute, Express Ideas

Collaborate to Connect- Embrace Multiple Perspectives, Leverage Resources, Act with Accountability and Feedback
Analyze to Think Critically- Gather, Analyze and Evaluate Information, Synthesize and Conclude
Problem Solve to Innovate- Define the Problem and Empathize, Design and Propose Solutions
Navigate Change to Adapt and Thrive- Adapt and Persist, Self-Direction

Students explained the different types of boats that were constructed by the tribes, and what their purposes were.

VoL connection: "I can apply speaking skills to engage my audience and support their understanding of my message"

Students described the style of houses built by the Eastern Woodland tribes, and discussed why the design was chosen.

VoL connection: "I can identify and define a problem or challenge that is interesting or important to others"

Students discussed the types of crops grown by the Eastern Woodland tribes, and why these crops were so essential to their community.

VoL connection: "I can explain my ideas clearly and ask questions to understand other perspectives/ideas"

Students described how the Nez Perce constructed teepees, as well as their practical and symbolic importance.

VoL connection: "I can choose relevant details and information to help me share my main idea"

Students demonstrated how the Nez Perce used fishing techniques to make fishing more successful.

VoL connection: "I can identify and explain my thoughts, beliefs and ideas using evidence and new learning"

Students explained how the Nez Perce location near mountain ranges impacted their society.

VoL Connection: "I can determine useful information, and organize ideas to support group progress"

NKHS Technical Math

Students in Technical Math at NKHS are collaborating to connect with our industry partners CARJON. CARJON specializes in high-efficiency HVAC systems and ductless solutions. They visited the students to help them make connections of what they learn in the math class to how that is applied to the day to day work at CARJON. The teachers "leveraged resources", a sub-skill under "Collaborate to Connect". This also sparked curiosity among students allowing them to "Think Critically" as they "questioned and inquired' on the product presented to them which were copper pipes prepared in the shape of NKHS and what type of math was involved in this creation.

Thank you to Mrs. Garcia and Mr. Maroni from bringing the Vision of the Learner to life in the classroom!

The Vision of the Learner Centers Student Voice

On October 10, 2025 North Kingstown High School students led professional development for all teachers and staff in the district. The focus of the professional learning was on the Vision of the Learner skills, subskills and learning progressions. Students, who are members of the VoL Design Team and the NKHS Leadership Academy, participated in extensive training to prepare themselves for the day. Below are some pictures.

The Vision of the Learner is ALIVE at Forest Park!!!

I can recall basic details from a speaker's message.

I can speak loudly and clearly enough to be understood by people.

I can present my ideas using a visual and/or media to communicate clearly.

When it's my turn, I can share my ideas or respond to a question or prompt.

Express Ideas

"I can explain my main message/idea so that others can understand." Student Council candidates speaking to grades 3-5 and student digital voting.

Harness Powerful Tools

"I can present ideas using a visual and/or other media to communicate clearly." Tall Tales book report done via video recording and sharing.

Listen and Contribute

"When it's my turn, I can share my ideas or respond to the question or prompt" Analyzing art in Wit and Wisdom.

Stony Lane is MAKING CONNECTIONS to the VoL Skills!

Grade 5 Student Presentations

COMMUNICATE TO EXPRESS - Express Ideas
ANALYZE TO THINK CRITICALLY - Synthesize & Conclude
COLLABORATE TO CONNECT - Embrace multiple perspectives
COLLABORATE TO CONNECT - Leverage resources

Student Council- Grade 5 Soccer Goal Proposal

NAVIGATE CHANGE TO ADAPT AND THRIVE - Self-Direction
PROBLEM SOLVE TO INNOVATE - Define the Problem & Empathize
ANALYZE TO THINK CRITICALLY - Gather, Analyze, & Evaluate Information

Grade 4 Teachers, Students and PTO adjusted the Stony Lane School Store to provide students with real world practice interacting with money counting change in 25, 50 and 75 cent combinations building mathematical fluency.

COMMUNICATE TO EXPRESS - Express Ideas

ANALYZE TO THINK CRITICALLY - Synthesize & Conclude

COLLABORATE TO CONNECT - Embrace multiple perspectives

Stony Lane Feinstein Junior Scholars are proud of the NK Food Bank Brownie Collection!

NAVIGATE CHANGE TO ADAPT AND THRIVE - Self-Direction

COLLABORATE TO CONNECT - Embrace multiple perspectives

COLLABORATE TO CONNECT - Leverage resources

Canva Club Proposal

PROBLEM SOLVE TO INNOVATE - Define the Problem & Empathize

PROBLEM SOLVE TO INNOVATE- Design & Propose Solutions

PROBLEM SOLVE TO INNOVATE - Test & Iterate

ANALYZE TO THINK CRITICALLY - Question & Inquire

ANALYZE TO THINK CRITICALLY - Synthesize & Conclude

Build a Mobile Library

NAVIGATE CHANGE TO ADAPT AND THRIVE - Self-Direction

PROBLEM SOLVE TO INNOVATE- Design & Propose Solutions

ANALYZE TO THINK CRITICALLY - Synthesize & Conclude

Story Mapping: How to Catch a Turkey

COMMUNICATE TO EXPRESS - Listen & Contribute

COLLABORATE TO CONNECT - Act with accountability and feedback

COLLABORATE TO CONNECT - Leverage Resources

Vision of the Learner Elementary Posters

The posters below were created by Forest Park Kindergarten teacher Jenna Smith. Jenna is part of the VoL Design Team, and she has created these beautiful posters that represent the VoL Skills, Subskills and Learning Progressions that will be the primary focus at each elementary grade level.

Click on the video link to learn more about how the Vision of the Learner is taking shape in NK schools!

VOL.mp4

NKSD Guiding Skills

After several months of research, learning and discussion, the Vision of the Learner Design Team has identified the Guiding Skills for the North Kingstown School District's Vision of the Learner. These skills, which are framed as actions, represent the broad-based learner outcomes that will drive the learning experiences for all North Kingstown students. The skills are as follows:

Communicate to Express
Collaborate to Connect
Analyze to Think Critically
Problem Solve to Innovate
Navigate Change to Adapt and Thrive

Learning Progressions

In addition to the Guiding Skills, the Design Team identified grade-based learning progressions, which clarify the continuum of learning that students will experience as they move through the North Kingstown school system. These progressions take the form of "I Can" statements, in that they indicate the skills that students will aim to demonstrate within certain grade level bands. They are directed aligned to the Guiding Skills that were determined by the Design Team.

Click HERE to view the progressions, organized by Guiding Skill area.

Click HERE to view the progression, organized by Grade Level Band.