Why am I writing this personal entry? Well, it is not an attempt to gain any sympathy. It attempts to show what is possible if a clear intention and goal serve the learner's needs. In May of 2022 just near the end of another fantastic school year, I do not remember what happened. But, I was unable to finish the school year and was unable to teach the following year. Why? On May 21st, 2022, I fell down a flight of 16 stairs (luckily carpeted) from the 2nd to 1st story of our home. I was found at the bottom of the stairs. I was found foaming at the mouth. This would lead to a 2-month hospital stay which included an induced coma because my seizures would not stop, several rounds of lumbar punctures, and relearning basic physical movements like something as simple as being able to roll in the hospital bed. Simply put, when I was admitted to the hospital, I was diagnosed as being “critically ill.” Please take a moment and read those words: critically ill. They are not terms that are
Personalizing learning is something I’m very passionate about in my classroom. As I was driving using the new version of Apple Maps, it led me to some essential questions when framing paths to outcome mastery to give learners more autonomy.
There needs to be different ways to demonstrate the same skills.
If the constraints put on learners isn’t a part of the skills or content being mastered, it doesn’t need to be essential to the process.
Most due dates are created by the teacher. If mastery is the key, does it matter if it happened on Monday or Tuesday?
There are so many great tools to assist all learners in letting them get to where they are going. You are one of them.
You need to know where you learners are at before you can determine their first step towards mastery. Pre Assessment is key.
Rapid cycle feedback from teachers is more powerful than any grade.
Reflection and self-assessment are even better than teacher feedback.
Not every learner needs the same feedback and level of remediation when they stumble.
Some learners may demonstrate mastery on a pre assessment, how can you push them even further?
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