How to Teach to Standards
The overriding educational objective of meeting standards becomes the criteria by which materials and content is outlined and selected. It drives the delivery of instructional procedures and influences how tests and assessments are developed.
Six Questions to Answer Before Teaching to Standards
- What do students need to learn?
- How does the learner learn?
- What do I need to teach and what strategies will I use?
- What resources are available for teaching?
- How will I know students have learned what has been taught?
- What learning experiences need to be provided to accomplish this?
Tips to Teach to Objectives
- Clearly state the purpose of the learning objective. Check for student background knowledge to increase interest.
- Be very explicit about the assessment process and target key skills for sound achievement.
- At the start of scoring or assessments and throughout, share the scoring criteria with students in language they understand.
- Practice using standard scoring criteria and monitor the consistent use of the criteria with actual student outcomes; re-teach if necessary.
- Double-check using other grading systems to rule out biases during the assessment phase and make adjustments where needed.
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