GETTING FAMILIAR WITH THREE KEY TERMS

1. EXPECTATIONS FOR STUDENT LEARNING (ESL):

Expectations for Student Learning (ESL) are broad learning outcomes, such as Reading, Writing, Critical Thinking, Learning Habits, Problem Solving, Citizenship, etc. By their very nature, these over-arching outcomes are packed with lots of knowledge, concepts, and skills. In the next few months, Shelburne Middle School will identify a limited number ESL, which will be common outcomes for all grade-eight students.

2. LEARNING TARGET:
Learning targets unpack parts of an ESL to help teachers and students zoom in on the exact part of the ESL that they are practicing. They are written in first person to make them student-friendly. For example, when focusing on the Reading ESL, a teacher might want to have students zoom in on this type of Learning Target: I can write an objective summary of a text, one that identifies a theme in the text and describes how the author develops the theme. In the next few months, Shelburne Middle School will identify a set of Learning Targets for each ESL.

3. LEARNING SCALES:
Learning scales are designed to help teachers and students get clear about what it means to progress toward and beyond a standard. Heres what learning scales might look like for the Learning Target, I can write an objective summary of a text, one that identifies a theme in the text and describes how the author develops the theme. 4 Identify a theme(s) in a text. I use this skill in other settings, identifying the important themes in texts. I use this skill in other settings, describing how multiple themes are developed by an author. I use this skill in other settings, objectively summarizing texts. 3 I can recognize an important theme in texts. 2 When provided a theme, I can locate specific parts of the text that help develop the them. When directed to specific parts of a text, I can describe how they help develop a theme. 1 Im learning what themes are, studying examples and practicing identifying themes in texts. I am learning how authors develop themes, studying examples of texts.

Describe how author develops theme(s).

I can independently describe the way an important theme is developed by an author.

Summarize the text.

I can write an When I can refer to I am learning what it objective summary models as a means to summarize, of a text. reminder, I can studying examples. write an objective summary.

Once Shelburne Middle School settles on the Expectations for Student Learning and Learning Targets, time will be devoted to the design of Learning Scales.