Learning Skills - where are they?

As teachers scramble to write progress reports on students they've only known for 6 weeks or so, the numbers of visitors to my learning skills-related blog posts once again skyrockets!  It can be challenging to get a real sense of student strengths and needs when one is busy trying to print out ever-evolving class lists an update timetables after re-org, make initial parent phone calls (especially on rotary!) and just generally try to get organized, particularly if you are at a new school this year, or if you are in your first year or two of teaching.

Nevertheless, learning skills can be reported on in a way that provides a concrete overview for students and their families to consider as they set school goals for Term One report cards.

As we were asked by our admin to comment on three of the learning skills this time around (responsibility, organization and independent work), my teaching partner decided to do a random locker and agenda check next week, so we could comment on that.  The resulting comment might look something like this, depending on the student in question:

Vera is adapting well to the rules and routines of Grade 7.

In class and around the school, Vera takes responsibility for and manages her own behaviour.  She consistently comes prepared for class and demonstrates thorough organization of materials, for example, her agenda and her locker.  Vera follows instructions with minimal supervision, and uses class time appropriately to complete tasks.

Vera is encouraged to seek assistance in various subjects as needed, for example, by coming to "working lunch" on Thursdays in Ms. Teschow's class or at other times with other teachers.

---

Vera is adapting well to the rules and routines of Grade 7.

In class and around the school, Vera usually takes responsibility for and manages her own behaviour.  She generally comes prepared for class and demonstrates considerable organization of materials, for example, by bringing a pencil to class each day, and using her agenda to record assignments.

Vera is encouraged to keep her locker tidy and well organized, and to follow in-class instructions the first time they are given.

Another idea I am planning to use in the weeks ahead is one that aligns with my "Math Centres" approach (an attempt to teach a balanced, differentiated math program this year).  As students have the opportunity to work independently on math centres in my room, I will give them one or both of the following self-assessments:

The idea is that students will bring their completed self-assessments to me when we conference, and then I will complete the teacher portion.  We'll then determine "next steps" together.

Please note that I am teaching Grade 7 and 8 this year, so readers will need to modify these ideas to suit their own grade levels obviously.  Nevertheless, I think you'll find that learning skills are all around us; we just need to consider what we're doing in class, then find a way to capture it in concrete ways to report to families.  Getting students involved in this process, even in the early years, is an excellent way to develop self-awareness and metacognition.