After our discussion last week it became very clear that we need to look at changing our current report card. Our current report card simply does not fully communicate what students are
expected to know and be able to do. A new report card would allow parents and students to understand more clearly what
is expected at each grade and or subject level. With this understanding, parents will
be better able to guide and support their child helping him/her to be
successful in our academic programs. We should also develop a second page (similar to figure 2.1 on page. 19) that rates key skills as they relate to effort and behavior, again giving parents and students more feedback as it relates to learning.
We need to make an effort to give more attention to individual learning styles. Maybe that involves giving every student a learning styles test such as the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator. What would engagement look like if our classrooms were grouped according to similar learning styles? How can we have students self-report learning styles and adjust our curriculum accordingly? These are things that could potentially impact learning. All children have unique learning styles and students clearly gain strong benefits when their teachers recognize their strengths and weaknesses as learners. If we are not inclined to much self reflection about our teaching practices, we are likely to continue teaching others the way we learn best, assuming that this way will work for all students. Do you know how your students learn best?
