Learning the Ropes

Working for TFA is almost like cheating. Today our Curriculum Specialist introduced us to this incredible excel program. Here is the break down: State standards tend to be very brief and vague - for instance "Students will understand the Civil War." It is the responsibility of each teacher to take the standards and form specific individual learning objectives. TFA has already done this for us this summer in order to maximize our effect on positive student achievement outcomes over our 18 teaching days. (This is high stakes; if students do not pass, they will likely have to repeat a grade.)

Students took the pre-test yesterday, each question representing each of the 100 or so learning objectives. After entering student data, we were able to use this program to see which objectives students are proficient in and which ones students need help with. There are 6 students in the class in which I will be teaching. On only two questions did all students answer correctly. Each member of a collaborative team must choose carefully which objectives to teach to the students, since there are more objectives that have yet to be mastered than we have time for. Tomorrow we will get into the details of lesson planning - always working backwards!: What do you want your students to know/be able to do (learning objectives), what assessment will you use to measure whether they have achieved this, how will get your students there (lesson planning).

I am a little fatigued, it is time for bed. Can't wait to start lesson planning!