What is a Content Objective?

What is a Content Objective

Statements that identify what students should know and be able to do in particular content areas. They
support school district and state content standards and learning outcomes, and they guide teaching and
learning in the classroom. Objectives presented both in writing and orally during the launch of the
lesson tell the students what the content of the lesson will be. It is revisited during the summary of the
lesson to assess for understanding.

What is a Content Objective?

A content objective is a description of an observable student behavior or performance that is used to
make a judgment about student learning. It is a statement of what students will be able to do at the end
of the lesson.

Why use a Content Objective?

Objectives not only provide teachers with a direction for their teaching, but more importantly, provide
students with a direction for their learning. Students learn more effectively when they are aware of
what they are being held accountable for and why it is important.

Characteristics of an Effective Content Objective:

Based on the content standards
Stated and/or written
Written in student friendly language
Uses a measurable (observable) verb
Aligns with independent practice
All students interact with the information

Three Parts of an Effective Content Objective:

1. Specifies the conditions under which the behavior is performed
"Students will..."
"Today we will..."
"Given A and B students will..."

2. The verb is a measurable and observable action

“list”, “define”, “name”
NOT “know”, “understand” or “learn”

3. Criteria for success are defined (sometimes this information is for the teacher only and not verbalized
to the students)
Specifies how well they will perform
Establishes a minimum for success
Example: “at least 3", "90% accuracy", etc

Algebra I-Content Standard 10.0: Students add, subtract, multiply, and divide monomials and
polynomials. Students solve multistep problems, including word problems, by using these techniques.
Student Friendly Objective: Students will solve multistep word problems, using addition,
subtraction, multiplication and division.
Interacting With the Objective:
When students interact with the objective it helps them internalize it. Activities such as breaking the
objective apart helps them pinpoint specific concepts and skills that they will be held accountable for.
Referring back to the objective at the conclusion of the lesson allows the students to reflect on their
learning.
Class chorally reads aloud the objective. “Ready, begin…”
Cloze read the objective to the class pausing at a key word (the verb, concept, etc). “When I pause,
you say the next word…”
Draw a box around the verb. Say, “We are ____ (verb). What are we doing class?” (pause for group
response)
Partner 1 reads aloud the objective to partner 2 upon teacher’s signal. Switch upon teacher’s signal.
Refer back to objective at the end of the lesson. Have students do a self reflection of their success.
This could be oral, written, a think-pair-share, etc.
Use random selection to ask questions about the objective: “What are we doing today? What will
we see happening in class today? What will you be able to do by the end of class today?”