How to Use Student Learning Progressions

How to Use Student Learning Progressions to Drive Learning

Hey, y'all! Have you started using learning progressions with your kids yet? It's a total game-changer. 

Students have a hard time showing mastery over something when they don't really understand what it meas. So...the past couple of years, my students and I have been breaking down the standards together. 

We've written them out on chart paper, deciphered what they mean together, then worked backwards to try to figure out what they need to do in order to be "proficient" at them. 

For instance, before a student can ask and answer questions about key details in a text, they have be able to ask and answer questions about anything in the story. And before that, they have to know how to ask and answer questions period. 

So we break this down together and then students decide, either with a pre-test or in conversation, where they are on their learning progression. They can mark the date and color in where they are at currently. Then, as we progress through the unit or the school year, we re-evaluate where we are in our learning. 

If there are several students still working towards mastery and haven't quite gotten it yet, I know exactly who I need to pull into targeted small groups. And students know exactly what they need to work on in order to be proficient. 

We can use these with our data binders to help us solidify our goals or we can use them as a tool on their own. Either way, they help students understand what the expectation is for mastery of each standard. 

These progressions are based off of the Common Core State Standards, BUT every page is editable! 

That's right! If you live an a state that doesn't use the Common Core, or you want to edit the wording on some of the progressions, or if you want to add additional standards your class is working on, you totally can!

I've already gotten you started with EVERY RL, RI, W, and math standard. I personally wouldn't give my students too many more of these because it's just overwhelming to have all the speaking and listening, science, and social studies standards. Maybe add in just the major ones your students are working on if you want to.  

Shown are examples of the first grade progressions, but there are also progressions for kindergarten, second grade, and third grade. All of which work great with their data binders. 

If all of this seems foreign to you, check out my creating independent learners course. It'll help to add some clarity to all the progressions, learning plans, data binders, and other student-centered learning work.

Thanks for stopping by and I hope this helped you get some new ideas for your classroom. I'm always adding new resources to my Teachers Pay Teachers store so be sure to follow me for all the latest and greatest. Have a wonderful week and I'll talk to you soon. 

Stay cozy,