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Students develop their communication skills by interacting with people and media to acquire ideas and information. They develop and communicate their ideas to audiences through appropriate media.
Effective communicators show:
Strong reading skills
Strong research skills
Effective writing (consistent application of standard English)
Effective use of images, movement, color, sound, performance, voice, photographs, video, computer, graphs, charts, tables, statistics, technology etc...
Evidence in performance: Effective communicators demonstrate this skill by
Clearly articulating ideas (their own ideas, and summaries of other people’s ideas)
Creating reasoned arguments supported with relevant evidence, analyzing and synthesizing information, producing rich descriptions, and/or narrating compelling stories.
Engaging an audience
Organizing information clearly, accurately and logically.
Communicating complex thinking with originality, voice, humor and polish.
Controlling the content and message of their communications.
Questions for self-reflection on my development as a communicator:
How well do I read and understand a broad range of written material which includes but is not limited to poetry, novels, short stories, essays, textbooks, technical manuals, maps, sheet music, graphs, tables, charts, works of art, and film? How well do I determine the reliability of sources? How well do I recognize my struggles with comprehension and ask for support? How well can I make connections between what I’m “reading” and other contexts?
How well do I express myself in a variety of ways, including but not limited to art, music, world language, writing, speaking, theater, athletics, and community service? Do I support my points with information? Do I speak clearly and make an effort to show others that I’m engaged in communication with them? Do I try to develop my communication skills in different areas? Is my communication organized? Do I have a thesis statement or main point? Are my ideas supported by examples?
When faced with challenging situations, students demonstrate effective problem solving by thoughtfully framing the problem, applying their knowledge, and using inquiry skills to work toward solutions that address authentic needs.
Effective Problem Solvers show:
Efficient use of familiar and known solutions
Use of systematic methods
Correct application of math and logic
Application of communication skills
Evidence in Performance: Effective problem-solvers demonstrate this skill by
Framing problems to drive inquiry
Considering alternatives, diverse perspectives, and multiple approaches
Recording and communicating relevant evidence supporting the effectiveness of the solution
Applying a variety of strategies, asking good questions, and thinking logically and creatively
Seeking relevant and appropriate assistance
Reflecting on results of trials and revising methods to improve outcomes
Questions for self-reflection on my development as a problem solver:
How well do I solve problems through seeking help, grappling with difficult questions, experimenting, gathering information, planning, goal-setting, and reflecting? How well do I manage discouragement and frustration while problem solving? Do I think creatively in seeking solutions, or do I take the most obvious route possible? Am I willing to risk being wrong on the way to solving the problem and learning?
How well do I understand numbers, ways of representing numbers, relationships among numbers, and number systems? How well do I use mathematical concepts I’ve learned to solve problems in other classes or contexts? How well am I able to use numbers, statistics, and data to defend an idea?
Students demonstrate responsible citizenship by showing concern for and appropriate actions towards themselves, the community, and society as a whole.
Responsible Citizens show:
Respect for others and themselves by honoring individual differences.
Responsibility by seeing themselves as a causes rather than victims.
Responsiveness by acting for the good of the whole community.
Resourcefulness by taking effective and appropriate action
Acting ethically.
Evidence in performance: Responsible citizens demonstrate this skill by
Listening to and seeking out diverse perspectives
Supporting inclusivity
Demonstrating empathy
Participating in the school, community, nation, and world
Being a dependable team member whether leading or following
Working towards consensus
Adjusting their behavior to the social context (time, place, people)
Questions for self-reflection on my development as a citizen:
How well do I understand and accept that people live differently from me? How well do I understand the reasons for those differences? Do I know some specific ways in which people live, interact, or think differently in other places? Do I appreciate art, literature, music, film, or dance from another culture? How much am I aware of what’s going on in the world beyond my local community? What understanding do I have about how my actions and the actions my country takes affect other people in the world? What understanding do I have of how the environment affects how other people live now and have lived in the past?
How well do I understand the needs of my community? How willing am I to help in whatever way I can? How well do I work as part of a team? How well I do I work with people who are different or who have different ideas from me? In what ways do I demonstrate leadership? How do I contribute to a positive environment at Rivendell Academy? How do I contribute to my community beyond Rivendell?
How well do I advocate for myself and my needs? How willing am I to ask for help when I need it? How aware am I of the effects my actions have on my own life and on others? How accepting am I that other people have different needs and things that are important to them? How do I respond when something is hard and I’m struggling? How sensitive am I to other people’s needs and feelings when I’m working in a group?