Entry #4 - setting up student success

Of course it is difficult to know if what you are teaching, and the work that students are putting in is being effective in helping that student grow in knowledge, skills, and maturity. However, there are a few ways to make sure that you are making a difference.

The first is Assessment. Through self reflections, assessments for learning, and periodical quizzes or tests, and performance based tasks and assessments, you will be able to see what the children know. Some will have different learning styles and will potentially score a little differently depending on the type of assessment, but overall, you will have a good idea of where your class is in regards to what you're teaching.

Another way, perhaps a simple way, is to ask questions all the time about everything that you're saying, and even a few random questions that might test their knowledge. Perhaps as a passport on the way out, or playing the game around the world, or just a vocal quiz to see where your class is at.

Performance based assessments often compile several different ideas into one topic. Creating a big idea and having the students show their information in a form that is chosen by them, or through a multi-faceted project is just the ticket to learning what your kids learned from their unit, and often those presentations are fun, and the students are proud.

Being sure that you have planned proper SLE's to be checking for their understanding on is also crucial.

Ultimately, ensuring that you are being an effective teacher and your students are being set up for success by gaining knowledge, maturity, skills, abilities, and readiness for the future is possible most of the time, for most of the students in your class as long as you're constantly thinking about various ways to assess and check for understanding.