Student Goal Setting, Robinson, Spring 2024

Course Description

This is a 6-week online course, geared for 2nd grade-8th grade teachers. We begin the course by looking at growth mindset and how the idea of “grit” is critical in a goal-focused classroom. We will then be exploring using student engaged assessments to help students think through their own learning needs and set goals for themselves that will focus their academic growth. The course also looks at ways that the teacher can conference with students to keep focus on the individual goals. Finally, we will explore setting classroom goals for growth as a whole community and celebrating learning.

Technology Requirements:Participants must have access to the Google platform, as this course will be presented as a Google Site. Assignments and discussions will be on the Vermont State University Canvas Site.

Essential Questions

How can we use data dives to have students analyze their own learning and progress?How can we adjust assessments to be student engaged assessments?How does growth mindset play a part in students’ growth and their focus on goal setting?How can we help students to create manageable goals that will pinpoint keys areas that could make a significant improvement in their learning?How do we conference with our students to encourage a focus on their goals and push our students to progress in their learning?How can we use goal setting as a whole class to improve outcomes for our students and to focus our students’ work in the classroom on a daily basis?

Instructor

Melinda Robinson, M.Ed.

Melinda is the Principal at Randolph Elementary School. She has taught many courses through the Vermont State University Center for Schools.

Course Schedule

Weekly Focus and Expectations: As this is a condensed course, there will be multiple essential questions that we will be working on during each week. There will be several opportunities to communicate and share your learning each week as well.

Week 1: April 1st- Introduction to goal setting.

              -Read Introduction Chapter from Leaders of Their Own Learning,

              pages 1-18

              -materials on week one of the Google Site

              -introduction of ourselves to the community             

              -Discussion forum for week one

Week 2: April 8th- Growth Mindset in a Goal Oriented Classroom & Learning Targets

              -Read Chapter 1 from Leaders of Their Own Learning

              -materials on week 2 of the Google Site

              -Assignment- Create a lesson (or series of lessons) to introduce

              GRIT or Growth Mindset to your students.

              -Discussion forum for week 2

Week 3: April 15th- Data Dives to Develop Goals

              -Chapter first half of chapter 3, pages 95-107, from Leaders of Their Own Learning

              -materials on week 3 of the Google Site

              -Assignment- In a single subject (or more if you would like) determine

              the data that you could have students analyze on a regular basis. The

              Considering the reading from last week on Learning Targets, what

              data could students analyze for these targets and supporting learning

              targets.

              - Discussion forum for week 3

Week 4: April 22nd- Writing Goals with Students

              -Read the second half of chapter 3, pages 108-130 from Leaders of

              Their Own Learning

              -materials on week 4 of the Google Site

              -Assignment-

                             - Create a lesson, or series of lessons, that walks students

                             through analyzing a set of data and creating SMART goals.

                             - Determine how students will track their data over time. This

                             might be a simple tracking sheet, or you might want to design

                             a data notebook to be used.

              -Discussion forum for week 4

Week 5: April 29th- Conferring with Students

              -Read Chapter 4, specifically from the bottom of page156-175 

              -materials on week 5 of the Google Site

              -Discussion forum for week 5

Week 6: May 6th- Setting Classroom Goals and Celebrating Learning

              -materials on week 6 of the Google Site

              -Assignment- Detail a classroom goal that you might make with your

              class on an academic push or social or habit need that the class has

              shown and detail how you could lead the class through the goal

              setting. Also, show a model for how you could display the classroom

              goal to show growth.

              -Discussion forum for week 6

              -Course evaluation

Required Texts