Goal setting is a vital part of amplifying student learning and motivation. What kind of education do our students deserve now? Alongside all the other things students have been asked to give up during the pandemic—their time with friends, their learning environment, their activities—we’ve also asked
Time devoted to working one-on-one with a learner or with a small group of learners is valuable, particularly in today’s schools and classrooms. However, we often use this support and time to accomplish “housekeeping tasks” or get a head start on homework. The resources and time allocated to provide tutoring has presented us with the
From the series: Developing Students’ Ownership of Learning—from a Distance, too! Check out Posts #1 and #2. Let’s continue our journey to developing assessment-capable, visible learners. At this point, students know what they are supposed to be learning, what success looks like, and how they can monitor their progress. The next
Bandura (1994) defines self-efficacy as “people’s judgments of their capabilities to organize and execute courses of action required to attain designated types of performances.” In other words, if we have self-efficacy we believe that we have the knowledge and skills to perform a task and
We know that reading is imperative for building great writers. We also are beginning to discover and practice the ways that writing is a critical component to creating great readers. For instance, we know that children, even in the earliest grades, often write before they read -- and students can read any word they
“As I began research for this book, I realized this over-emphasis on strategy instead of purpose was not only affecting students’ ability to write meaningful pieces, it was also affecting their ability to infer and interpret the stories they read. When students see no meaning
The final months of the school year can feel pretty sloggy. We’re tired, kids are restless, and it often feels like it doesn’t matter much anymore. After all, the year is nearly done! Summer is practically here! The standardized tests are over! Cue the Moviefest. The
We often say that we learn from our failures. But neuroscience does not completely agree. The reality is that humans are more likely to learn from mistakes if they have experienced a sufficient amount of success. The brain produces motivation by the secretion of dopamine in
Does this statement ring true in your school? “Many students are aware of the issues in the world around them, possibly feeling inspired, curious, confused, or scared.” (Teaching the Whole Teen, p. 153). If that statement sounds on target, your school is not unusual. Young people
The last few weeks seem to have generated lots of tweets and blog posts on creating positive learning environments and achieving desired behavioral outcomes with our students. Many of the posts also speak to the need to steer clear of rewards, tokens, or awards as