Students have opportunities to exceed the standards

One of my favorite responsibilities of my job is going into classrooms to watch teachers practicing their craft, and to watch students in the learning process.   In a recent visit to a classroom, I was impressed by the demonstration of how teachers are using higher levels of taxonomy to challenge students and motivate them to push themselves.

The lesson I was observing was a social studies lesson on economic structures.    Specifically, the learning target was: “Understands how economic systems work and the role they play in society.”    This learning target is to be taught to the taxonomy level of comprehension.    The teacher provided the students with a few different ways to demonstrate meeting this standard.  These assessments were given to the students ahead of time so they would know what was expected as they studied the topic.   Some examples of how students could meet this standard were:

1. Create a flow chart of each economic system (use words and images in your description of each system)
2. Write an explanation in your own words describing each system
3. Use metaphors to describe each system
4. Develop your own appropriate assessment

All of these assessments  allow students to show proficiency, and they are all at the comprehension level.   This is appropriate for this learning target.

When the teacher finished explaining the lesson and what the expectations were, a few students asked what they could do to exceed the standard.    The teacher referred them to handout outlining expectations for the learning target.  The expectation for exceeding the standard was also described.  Students were given a few options for this:

1. Compare the three economic systems
2. Predict what would happen if America switched from a mixed system to a strict version of one of the systems we have been studying.
3. Critique each system and describe in detail the downside to that system.

All of these assessments, which allow students to exceed the standard, are at a taxonomy level of analysis.   At this level there is deeper thinking, and this is one of the ways students can exceed the standard.

Here is what I enjoyed about the classroom visit.

1. Students were given choice in how they could demonstrate proficiency.
2. The teacher demonstrated an excellent understanding of our curriculum, which not only includes the learning targets, but the taxonomy level learning targets should be taught at.
3. Students were given opportunity to increase the taxonomy level thus exceeding the standard.
4. Students were motivated to reach for this higher level.
5. The teacher was available to work with students who wanted to exceed the standard to help them get to a deeper understanding.

 Good things are happening in our schools !