#student-agency

Create and manage Personalized Learning Plans (PLPs) for middle school students. PLP Document Components: 1. Student Profile: Strengths, interests, learning preferences. 2. Academic Goals: 1-2 SMART goals for ELA and Math, co-created by student and teacher. 3. Personal Goals: A goal related to a personal interest or career aspiration. 4. Action Steps: Specific actions the student will take to meet their goals (e.g., 'I will use Khan Academy for 20 minutes twice a week'). 5. Progress Monitoring: How progress will be tracked (e.g., test scores, portfolio review). Process: 1. Initial goal-setting conference with student and parents. 2. Student and advisor check in on progress bi-weekly. 3. Formal review and goal update at the end of each quarter. Fosters student agency and goal-setting skills.

Teach students to 'think about their thinking'. Strategies: 1. Pre-assessment: Before a unit, have students complete a 'What I Know, What I Want to Know' (KWL) chart. 2. The Muddiest Point: During a lesson, pause and ask students to write down the 'muddiest point'—what is least clear to them. 3. Exam Wrappers: After a test, have students analyze their performance. Ask: 'How did you study?' 'What types of questions did you miss?' 'What will you do differently next time?' 4. Reflective Journals: Prompt students to reflect on their learning process weekly. 'What strategy worked well for you this week?' 'Where did you get stuck?' Goal: move students from passive recipients to active managers of their own learning.

Shift from traditional to student-led conferences. Preparation: 1. Students compile a portfolio of their work (successes and challenges). 2. Students complete a self-reflection sheet on their progress, goals, and areas for improvement. 3. Students practice presenting their portfolio to peers. The Conference (20 mins): 1. Student welcomes parents and teacher. 2. Student presents their portfolio, explaining their work and learning process. 3. Student discusses their self-reflection and goals for the next quarter. 4. Parents and teacher ask questions and provide feedback. 5. All parties co-sign the goal-setting sheet. Benefits: increases student ownership and accountability, develops communication skills, provides parents with a more authentic view of their child's learning.

Design a choice board for a unit on Ancient Egypt. Structure: A 3x3 grid of activities with varying difficulty and learning styles. Students must complete three activities in a row (like tic-tac-toe). Sample Activities: Row 1 (Remembering): Create a timeline of major events. Define 10 key vocabulary words. Draw and label a map of Ancient Egypt. Row 2 (Applying): Write a diary entry from the perspective of a pharaoh. Build a model of a pyramid. Design a travel brochure for the Nile River. Row 3 (Creating): Write and perform a short play about the discovery of Tutankhamun's tomb. Create a museum exhibit with artifacts. Compare and contrast Egyptian and Mesopotamian societies in an essay. Allows for differentiation and student choice while ensuring all students engage with key concepts.