What Are Your Student Outcomes?

Fourth article in a Series of Six, especially for teachers.When you present the lesson, it is helpful to let the
Every school district has written goals for theirstudent know what this can do for them, and why.
classroom instruction. You might have different goalsEven if the student is too young to appreciate these
for your students. Whether this has been done for you"adult" goals, you know you are providing something
or not, you need to have set specific goals for yourthey need in life.
students.When I was filling in for a child care teacher, her
Do you have any idea what you want your studentssubstitute lesson plan blew me away. The students
to learn? I mean the skills and attitudes necessary towere divided into teams of 4 or 5, and instructed to
become a successful, productive, reasonably happywrite down positive, reinforcing words to say to
adult. When you plan your lesson you need to addresschildren. They wrote the words on small pieces of
one or more of these goals or you are just wastingbright paper, then stapled them into a long chain. The
your students' time.group that could come up with the most links in their
The following "student outcomes" identify some of thechain were the winners. This lesson was right on the
goals you may want to have for your students:mark, using a communication and team building activity
1. Earn a diploma or certificate.(see the next article). For once, not one student
2. Demonstrate a willingness to learn.wanted to leave early.
3. Participate actively as a team member.There are so many resources for teachers that you
4. Communicate professionally, with others throughcan get many more ideas than you can use you your
verbal, non-verbal, and written communications.lifetime. Get excited, go out and find activities that
5. Demonstrate the ability to seek, apply and interviewexcite your students. Help them get the whole bag
for employment.(see number 1 in this series).