What are they learning and why?

I first started the "Principal's Challenge" as Assistant Principal in 2000, and have kept it up a few times a year, mostly for grades K-2. Its a fun way for me to see student work, and I usually celebrate those who take the challenge by playing outside with them, which is also very good for my overall well being! This year, a team of teachers has engaged in the "formative assessment project." This is just one of our school improvement efforts. The project helps teachers to learn more about the power of "formative assessment," which basically means checking frequently for understanding during a lesson and making adjustments so that all students learn what is intended for them to learn. We have purchased "clickers," which are modern ways for a teacher to quickly check on EVERY student's understanding, not just those eager students waving their hands in the air to be called on! Even our kindergarten students have tried out a lesson using "clickers." Since these are just catching on at the college level (I recently heard a news story about "clickers" on Vermont Public Radio), I feel we are at the cutting edge of using technology as a tool for improved instruction. The team involved with the formative assessment project asked me to do a Principal's Challenge asking the students, "What are you learning and why are you learning it?" The results were wonderful! Here are a few of my favorites:

“Music is important because you learn to sing with your voice.” – Jonathan, Grade 1

“Science – gases, liquids, solids. Solids are important because they’re good to build things that are hard like a tree house. Liquids are important because you can pour them and drink them like water. Gases are important because it’s air we breathe.” – Camden, Grade 1

“Math is very important in life because everything is about number.” – Shyanne, Grade 1

“I am learning about obstacle courses. This is very important because it teaches you how to move your body.” – Sydney, Grade 1

“I am learning to hold things still on my nose. It teaches me to control my energy.” Landon, Grade 1

“In PE I learned how to exercise and play games that are exercising games. I also learned how to juggle, too. I also learned how to be respectful, responsible, and caring.” – Megan, Grade 1

“In library I am learning about Red Clover books. I am learning this so that I can vote in Vermont’s voting.” Beth, Grade 2

“In art I am learning to paint. I am learning to do this so I can be an artist.” Alex, Grade 2

“We learn how to stay healthy in PE. We do this so we can live longer.” Gavin, Grade 2

“In reading I am learning to sound out words. This will help me be a better reader. Right now I am learning to read words with silent e.” – Cassie, Grade 2

“In science I am learning about volcanoes. I am learning this so that I can know about a part of the earth.” – Catherine, Grade 2

“In reading I am learning how to ask questions about non-fiction.” Sarah, Grade 2

“In reading I am learning to read fluently. I am learning to do this to be a better reader.” Michael, Grade 2

“We are learning about the human body. We are learning it because I and my class did not know about all the systems in your body. But now we know because our teacher takes the time to teach us all the systems. I think its important because I want to be a doctor when I grow up.” Max, Grade 3

“In math we’re learning to subtract with regrouping. It will help me a lot when I get older. Because I don’t really know how to subtract with regrouping. I need it when I get older for buying stuff.” - Cassidy, Grade 3

“We are learning about the digestive system because we can learn about diseases and stuff that we do not know about, so when we are older we don’t have to learn any of the things we already learned.” – Brandon, Grade 3

“In science, we need to know what is healthy and what is not, to protect ourselves.” Kamal, Grade 3

“In science we have been doing a human body project. We are doing this because when we are older we might need more exercise and by doing this project we will know what kind of exercise to help that part of our body.” Ryan, Grade 3

“We are learning to write reports and response to literature. We apply our grammar into our writing. We are learning to edit and write good paragraphs.” Jenna, Grade 4

“I am learning how to study people on the computer and write a report. I am studying a person his name is Joseph Brant. He was the person who led the British into the Revolutionary War. He also made the border to get in and out of Canada. He went to war when he has just 13! I learned that a report can be about a person. Reports can also be pretty long! That’s what I learned in class. I’m glad I learned how to write a report.” - Ian, Grade 5

“My class is learning about matter and atoms in science. I think we are doing matter and atoms so we are ready for older grades. I think it is important because we might want to become a scientist and in order to be a scientist you need to know everything about science, but its not just a scientist that needs to know science other jobs do too. Also, matter and atoms are important in our world because everything is made of atoms. Lastly, this is what my class is learning and why science is important.” Roni, Grade 5

“My class is writing a report about a biography. I think this is important because we are learning about a person’s life from birth to death. I am doing Jane Goodall. She is not dead yet but I have learned up to this day. We are also sticking with our topic and not giving up even if it does get boring. I think doing this once in awhile to get our brain up to date. We all got to choose who we did but we could not do someone that we have already done before. In conclusion the writing we are doing is important to my class.” Katelyn, Grade 5