My Response to Focus on effectiveness: Setting objectives

After reading this article I have a better understanding of why some of my students may struggle with meeting the objectives I have set for them. I have sometimes set the objectives without communicating with them and allowing them to participate in the process. Although most times my objectives have not been too narrow, they have been my objectives and forgot about goals my students may have needed to set for themselves.

It would make sense to allow them to set sub-goals as a way to take ownership of their learning. According to this article, research shows that students perform better when they do take part in the process of setting their learning objectives and goals. It also points out that learning objectives should not be too specific because it may limit the learning of students. This would happen when students loose the connection between other related information that may also be important because it was not mentioned as a part of a broader objective or goal.

As, a teacher working with multiple grades, teaching multiple subjects and planning effective lessons to include multiple skill levels is very important, but very difficult at times. When I set objectives, I may set them too broad so that I can try to include as many students as possible for time's sake. This is not most effective way to teach. What is my next step in my personal effort to reform and improve strategies? Well, first I will go back to working with my students the way I did before our district and school funding became so tight.

I will make and take time to meet with my students and make them a part of the collective process of planning their learning activities. I will ask them for feedback on the lesson to find out whether or not their objectives were met and how I could better help them meet their specific learning needs. I will forget that I am expected to worry about the many district level and state level tests that they have to take. I will make sure that they are actually learning based on what their needs are and keep teaching them that education is a mutual responsibility type of journey.