Last summer over 250 Learning Targets books were given out
to our campus administrators and teacher leaders in NISD. The purpose was to continue to enhance our
teachers lesson planning while promoting the partnership between teachers and
students. The authors stress the fact
that Learning Targets must share a common language, focus, and goal between
learner and facilitator. Otherwise they are useless. 
The weekly twitter chat in our district, #nisdchat (Sunday’s
at 8:30 pm) has spent a few different sessions with teachers talking about how
they are using Learning Targets in their classrooms this year and more
importantly, how students are responding to them. If you missed the chat, here are the
questions…leave a comment below or search the chat on twitter and join the
discussion. Pictures are welcome! 
1.
How have LTs helped you as a teacher this year?
2.
What success have you had with learning targets
in your classroom?
3.
How do you work to make sure students “own their
learning”?
4.
How have LTs helped you communicate expectations
to parents?
5.
How might your targets change between now and
the end of the year?
If you would like to see more about the Learning Targets
discussion in NISD, please review the blog post below from the summer of 2014.
I believe that the learning targets have been beneficial for me and my students for a variety of reasons. Firstly, the focus on the depth of our TEKS has been enlightened through creating learning standards for my students. Secondly, the students ownership of their learning and understanding of the TEKS has enabled them to show growth as learners. In relation to communication with parents, I have not communicated my LT's with my parents; however, I have found myself discussing the TEKS and depth of understanding that their children are expected to learn. I think that as I wpukd like to start involving my students in the writing of the LT(even though I'll already have it planned) to further their understanding of the TEKS and provide them with more ownership of their learning.
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ReplyDeleteI feel that through learning targets we as teachers have taken a deeper look into the TEK and the verb in the TEK to see what it is really asking us. I have been able to use my learning targets to introduce some great academic vocabulary to my students and it has given them a better understanding of how and why we are doing what we are doing. I like what Tara Heady said in giving them the opportunity to write a learning target. It will give them ownership of their learning! Great idea!
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