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Atwater students have grown as learners, they are developing their ability to lead their own learning through student engaged assessment practices.
Leaders of Their Own Learning Progression
Leaders of Their Own Learning Progression
Over the course of five years, the staff at Atwater focused on key student engagement practices, beginning with learning targets and then folding in practices such as critique/rubrics/feedback, Celebrations of Learning, student-led conferences, and Passages.
Passage Presentations
Since the 17/18 school year, Atwater students have reflected on their growth in the three dimensions of student achievement, including how they incorporated PERKS into their academic work to own their own learning. These videos are just some examples of these passage presentations.
To weave these practices into the fabric of Atwater's culture, the Atwater staff participated in professional development learning cycles. One such cycle was focused on the implementation of student-led conferences in the winter of 2019-2020.
Leader's of Their Own Learning Examples of Implementation
Leader's of Their Own Learning Examples of Implementation
Learning Targets/ Checking for Understanding
Learning Targets/ Checking for Understanding
Throughout learning models, including remote learning, students are still using exit slips connected to learning targets.
Use of Models and Learning Targets
Use of Models and Learning Targets
Pictures from art (1st/2nd) display process of students using models and Learning Targets to guide their product development.
Student-led Conferences
Student-led Conferences
3:4 SLC Agenda and Reflection Tools.pdfSeveral examples of Student-led Conference checklists and scripts from the spring of 2020. Also below is the orchestra reflection tool many students used as part of their SLC. Just some examples of the implementation of student-led conferences throughout all grades and subjects at Atwater.
4th gr SLC Agenda.pdfNolan - Student Conference Form 5th and 6th Grade.pdfStudent Perspective on Learning Targets
Student Perspective on Learning Targets
In the 2017-2018 Mid-year Review student focus groups, we asked our students, "why are learning targets important?" Here's what they said at the time
5K, 1st and 2nd grade group: "Everyone knew what they were; so we can learn; if we are going to learn about shapes you need a target so we know what we are going to do and learn about; so we can make sure we have a goal and we know what we are going to do--i was going to say that too; if you get something all correct then you know what else you can do, without targets, the teacher would have to keep repeating if someone forgot and that would be annoying"
3rd and 4th grade group: "They are a goal or an I can statement. To learn and if you never had targets you can use them to learn things you haven't been doing. They help you have a purpose. If you want to you can use them to set a goal to challenge yourself. Without them it is hard to have a main focus. They tell you what to pay attention to. If we didn't have them we wouldn't get very high in subjects or test our anbilities as much. They give us goals. I notice that with every thing in Mrs. Hayes room it says the I know you'll have it when, too. You can have behavior targets, too."
5th and 6th grade group: "so you can meet that goal, setting a goal that you can meet, you know what you're going to be doing and they help you focus, you know what unit you're going into and you can practice and focus on that, something to look forward to and something you could exceed, setting goals for yourself are important, if I pay attention to one thing at time it works better, you want to set goals for yourself and learn new things everyday."
And now, three years later, every Atwater student can tell you their own personal connection to the importance of targets. Some examples of what students feel about learning targets are listed below.
“Learning targets calm you down. They tell you what you’re doing so you don’t have to do it by yourself or figure it out by yourself” - Evie and Anya, 5th graders
“You go for the target. You don’t just sit in your chair and wait for it.” - Rohan, 2nd grader
“Learning targets point you to your goal. And the reflection is how you go there” - Isaac and Marcello, 5th graders
“Learning targets and reflections help me because it shows what I need to do to hit the target, and reflections show how I am doing on that hit. And how close I am with getting to the target” - Quinn, 4th grade
“Targets are what you want to focus on. Right there is where you want to be.” - Rawan, 2nd grader
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