Standards-Based Instruction Presentation

Introduction

• Presenter: Jessica Washington, also known as Miss Jessie.
• Focus: Understanding and utilizing standards in the classroom.
• Objective: By the end of the presentation, attendees should be able to:
  • Explain what a curriculum standard is.
  • Understand how to use curriculum standards to plan and modify lessons.
  • Discuss the use of verbs in curriculum standards to ensure grade-level learning.

Understanding Standards

• Definition of Standard:
  • General: A level of quality or attainment.
  • In Curriculum: A measure or norm for comparative evaluation.
• Curriculum Standards:
  • Expected knowledge or skills at a specific grade level (e.g., third grade, tenth grade).
  • Baseline for what students should achieve by the end of a term or year.

Curriculum Standards and Vertical Alignment

• Scope and Sequence:
  • Scope refers to the breadth of the curriculum.
  • Sequence refers to the order in which content is delivered.
• Vertical Alignment:
  • Standards show progression from one grade level to the next.
  • Example from ELA: Progression from third to fifth grade in character description and comparison.

Brain Buzz Questions

1. How would you explain the purpose of a standard to a colleague?
2. How can vertical alignment enhance teaching practices?

Breaking Down Standards

• Standard Components:
  • Verb: Indicates the action students must take.
  • Content/Skill: What students need to know or be able to do.
• Example: ELA RL 5.3 involves comparing and contrasting characters, settings, or events.

Importance of Verbs

• Action Words: Determine the student actions required by the standard.
• Alignment with Bloom's Taxonomy:
  • Verbs indicate the level of cognitive demand (e.g., remembering, understanding, applying, analyzing).
  • Changes in verbs can alter the rigor of the task.

Standards in Different Subjects

• Standards can apply across different subjects such as science, math, and languages.
• Understanding the verbs and skills in a standard makes it applicable to any curriculum.

Impact on Classroom Practices

• Standards-Based Instruction:
  • Planning with the end in mind (desired outcomes).
  • Creating lessons that align with the standard's verb and skill.
• Assessment Creation:
  • Assessments should align with the rigor and expectations of the standards.
  • Use of question stems based on Bloom's Taxonomy to build rigor.

Final Reflection

• Standard-Based Instruction in the Classroom:
  • Focus on achieving the standard's outcomes through aligned activities and assessments.
• Next Steps in Planning:
  • Consider how to incorporate standards understanding into lesson plans.
  • Evaluate the alignment of current teaching practices with the standards.