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FMS Learning Targets
One of our core beliefs at Fairview Middle
School is that “students learn best when they
are actively involved in the learning process.”
It is very important to us that students (and
parents) understand exactly what students will
be expected to learn and be able to do in every
subject. We realize that students (like adults)
are more motivated to do their best work when
they are given a specific challenge or goal to
reach. A well-known assessment expert, Rick
Stiggins, once said, “Students will hit any
target that they can see and does not move.”
With that in mind, our teachers have worked very
hard to identify a list of Learning Targets
written in student-friendly language that
explains exactly what students should be able to
do in that particular class and subject by the
end of each grading period. On the left margin
you will find the Learning Targets for every
subject and grade level for the current
nine weeks grading period. Notice that every
list of Learning Targets begins the same way:
“Students’ second nine weeks grade
will be based on evidence that they are able to
do the following:”
Teachers will share with students which targets
they are striving to reach each day. Teachers
will then create assessments and assign work to
students that will give students the opportunity to
practice the skills and to let teachers know how
close they are to reaching the target. It is
therefore essential that students and parents
view the grades they receive on
their work and progress reports as
feedback from teachers informing them
how well students are progressing towards the target and what they need to
do to improve!
To help make this clear, students and parents
will notice that grades on progress reports and
on K12 Planet are matched to a brief description
of the specific targets you see in the left
margin. Since we realize that every student is
unique and that not all students are going to
accomplish every target at the same pace,
teachers will give students a variety of
opportunities to improve their performance on
specific targets they have not mastered (by
re-doing part or all of an assignment, doing an
alternate assignment, or working towards mastery
of the target using Study Island, a web-based
tutorial system that all students can access at
home or school).
Our goal is simple: Provide students with clear,
challenging targets for success and then provide
for them a rich and engaging educational
experience that will allow them to showcase what
they have learned and what they can do!
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