What it means:
Engage students and families in each student’s growth by sharing progress and inviting student-driven improvements.
More Detail
Share data with students and families about student growth compared with goals students help set includes the following:
- Involve students in setting their own goals
- Provide frequent, timely data so students can track growth against goals
- Guide student choices during the year based on students’ own goals and belief that students can raise their bar
- Share data with families to help them support their children and teens at home
See a one-page Instructional Excellence Summary covering all the key elements.
Videos—For Teachers & Multi-Classroom Leaders
Watch these short videos of educators discussing the elements of Share, organized by action
General
Focus on Growth to MotivateSpark student interest and enthusiasm by helping them focus on their progress, MCL Erin Williams says. | Help Parents Help Their StudentsProvide events for parents that teach them how to help their children succeed educationally, MCL Lance Kanter says. |
Involve students in setting their own goals
Involve students in setting their own goalsStudents need to know where they are educationally and where they want to be so they understand what steps to take to reach their goals, as Candace Butler demonstrates. |
Provide frequent, timely data so students can track growth against goals
Show Students the Importance of DataMCL Bobby Miles explains how tracking their own data empowers students to advocate for themselves and reach their learning goals. | Help Students Track Progress on Ambitious Growth GoalsEncourage students to take ownership of their learning by tracking their progress and discussing it one-on-one, MCL Amber Hines says. |
Guide student choices during the year based on students’ own goals
Involve Students in School and Individual GoalsMCL Kathryn Smith points out the importance and power of giving children collective as well as individual learning goals. |
Share data with families
Explain Learning Data to ParentsMCL Erin Williams tells how she works with parents and their children to understand their children’s learning data. |
Discussion Questions
Use these discussion questions to help guide your instructional team through the elements of Share:
- Which actions in this element of instructional excellence are strengths for you or your team?
- Which actions in this element of instructional excellence are weaknesses for you or your team? Think about actions you never take, fail to take as often as needed, or do not take as well as needed to achieve strong learning growth consistently.
- What one to three specific changes will you or your team make to use your strengths more often or more consistently and improve weaknesses in the coming months?
- Make a brief action plan with specific goals, roles, and time by which you will make specific changes!
- Did your changes produce better learning results? If so, keep them. If not, think again about what other changes to make!
Study Guide
See this printable study guide with discussion questions and real examples from educators:
- For Multi-Classroom Leaders—Key Element of Instructional Excellence: Share (PDF)
Other Developmental Resources
See the following developmental resources, provided by other organizations, related to the elements of Share:
General Resources: Share data with students and families about student growth compared with goals students help set
Quick Resources:
Involve students in setting their own goals
Quick Resources:
Edutopia: SMART Goal Setting With Your Students (short article)
EdWeek: Students Assess Their Way to Learning (short article)
Cornell University, Center for Teaching Excellence: Self-Assessment (framework)
Teaching Channel: Self-Assessment and Peer Support (video)
Papers & Books:
Student Self-Assessment: The Key to Stronger Student Motivation and Higher Achievement (article)
Provide frequent, timely data so students can track growth against goals
Quick Resources:
KQED/Mindshift: Making Students Partners in Data Driven Approaches to Learning (short article)
Guide student choices during the year based on students’ own goals and belief that students can raise their bar
Quick Resources:
Expeditionary Learning, Professional Learning Packs: Choice and Options for Students (framework & videos)
Share data with families that helps them support their children and teens at home
Quick Resources:
Edutopia: Sharing Data to Create Stronger Parent Partnerships (short article)
WestEd: Coaching parents as team members (case study)
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