Thrive in Action Blog Series: Rigorous Thinking, GPS 1 - Lesson Goal
The Thrive In Action blog series highlights practical applications for Great Pedagogy Strategies (GPS) within the EdConnective Thrive Framework, summarized here. The EdConnective Thrive Framework is unique in that it can be applied to teaching actions seamlessly whether learning is in-person or remote. This week we get more familiar with:
Rigorous Thinking, GPS 1 - Lesson Goal: The lesson objective aligns to rigorous, grade-level curriculum and standards and is tailored to the students in the class, with the input of students. The objective is rigorous, specific, measurable, manageable in one class period, and is communicated to students.
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The Student Thriving Outcome (STO) of the Rigorous Thinking domain from the EdConnective Thrive Framework is that “students engage in meaningful and rigorous learning activities.” The heart of this is the GPS 1, Lesson Goal. As defined in the EdConnective Thrive Framework, for students to engage in a remote or face-to-face activity that is both rigorous and meaningful, there must be a strategically planned lesson goal “aligned to rigorous, grade-level curriculum and standards” and “tailored to students.” Additionally, the lesson objective must be “rigorous, specific, measurable, manageable in one class period.” Regardless of the modality, teachers should “clearly communicate this goal in student-friendly language at the beginning of each lesson.”
Know & Do
Whether working remote or face to face, defining the lesson objective begins with determining what students need to know and do in order to master the standard aligned to the lesson. The know refers to the conceptual understanding and information students must have to attain mastery. The do refers to the specific processes or steps necessary for students to show their mastery. Lessons must balance providing students with both the necessary information and processes for success. Regardless of the specific standards used, walking through this process helps to ensure that all lesson parts, activities, and assessments align to the level of rigor and the specific content necessary for students to build their skills and success over time. From here, teachers can determine how to measure student progress and strategically organize the content in a way that allows students to build success each lesson.
One strategy for defining a lesson goal is to use a Know and Do Chart to define the conceptual and procedural understandings. Know and Do Charts can be used with any standard or even specific exemplar problems from standards aligned assessments.
After defining the Know & Do, educators can strategically construct lessons in a way that builds understanding in layers over time to help students attain the high levels of skill needed for success. Teachers should sequence information in a way that maximizes background knowledge and capitalizes on students’ interests, experiences, culture and strength. Teachers should break down information in the Know & Do chart into specific, measurable lesson goals that can be accomplished in one lesson.
Sharing with Students
After defining the lesson goal, identifying the formative and summative assessments aligned to the goal, and constructing lesson components, teachers should script a strategic way to share the lesson goal with students in a way that they can understand. If face to face, the lesson goal should be posted in a consistent place in the classroom for reference throughout the lesson. If remote, the lesson goal can be included on a slide in a slide deck or posted at the top of lesson materials. Sharing the lesson goal with students does not mean reading them the standard verbatim. In order for this process to be meaningful, the lesson goal should relate directly to what students need to know and do in language they can understand. Likewise, it should relate directly to any essential question or enduring understandings.
All in all, the lesson goal serves as the foundation for all instruction, and consequently for all student success. Beginning with a well defined, measurable, lesson goal that is shared in student friendly language is the first step to ensuring that all students engage in meaningful and rigorous lesson activities.
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Download a summary of the EdConnective Thrive Framework here. EdConnective provides 1:1, personalized non-evaluative coaching to teachers, instructional coaches, and administrators, as well as small group coaching and large group training.