JUAB SCHOOL DISTRICT
APRIL 2017
#jsdinnovates Empowering our students to discover and pursue their dreams. #jsdchat “Yesterday I was clever, so I wanted to change the world. Today I am wise, so I am changing myself.” Rumi #juabpride
What if? One fear that district stakeholders have is that when teachers focus on learning rather than deadlines, students miss out on building soft skills, such as responsibility. The new focus is responsibility for learning, by student, by standard. With this shift in focus, students are given the opportunity to develop soft skills: grit, persistence, and growth mindset are all improved when learning is the ultimate focus.
Think about it as a VERB, not a NOUN. We strive to personalize learning for our students. We don’t “do that personalized learning thing.” #juablearns
When I moved to a four-point, standards-based reporting system in my own high school classroom, I also eliminated my late work policy. I allowed students to turn in work when they were ready without penalty. About half of my students turned in an essay on the given due date. But the quality of that second batch of essays was stronger than what I had previously received. Students were putting more effort into meeting the goals of the rubric rather than turning something in because I told them to. I was able to improve the feedback I gave my students because I was not slammed with 100 essays on a Friday afternoon. Technology helped me manage the “how” of anytime submission. I know this won’t work in every scenario, for every assessment. But I started with a question, “What if there is no penalty for late work?” Then I experimented with it to calm my fears. Ask yourself “What if?” What if I change one thing for the better today? What if I eliminate one barrier to learning (a policy, a practice) that exists in my classroom? What if I try one new tool and add it to my toolkit? The possibilities are endless and exciting. KB JUAB SCHOOL DISTRICT
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#jsdinnovates