3 Resources to help you Support Student Progress in Middle School and High School
Nov 12, 2023
In the ever-evolving landscape of education, our goal as teachers has always been to empower students in their learning. But sometimes it can feel incredibly overwhelming to do just that, especially when it feels like we have limited resources and time to accomplish it. If you're anything like me and have been searching for new, easy to use and effective tools to support student growth, then this is the blog post for you! Today, I want to share three powerful resources that really were game changers for me.
1. Use Student-Friendly Rubrics: A Treasure Map for Success
Alright, let's be honest. How many times have we handed out rubrics that looked more like hieroglyphics than helpful guidelines? Rubrics should be resources for students not something that requires them to legit google words. It's time to toss that secret code aside and embrace the magic of student-friendly rubrics. Imagine these as treasure maps for our students – clear, straightforward, and leading them straight to success.
Picture it: students understanding exactly what's expected, navigating their path with confidence, and acing every step along the way. It's not just about assessment; it's about creating a roadmap that makes learning meaningful and more importantly achievable for students.
What's great about this resource is that you can use it multiple ways:
- Student Work Samples
- Bulletin Board Displays
- 1:1 Conferencing
- Peer Editing among Students
- Performance Tasks
- Open Response
Option 1: Editable Version: Make your Own
You can grab the editable version from my TpT Store here, so you can print your own post it notes with student friendly language. This template is completely editable in Powerpoint, so you can it modify it to meet your students needs.
Option 2: Ready to Use: Pre Made Post It Note Rubrics
If you don't have time to edit or print them post it notes yourself. Grab a pre-made post it pad of these rubrics from my Teacher Theme Stationary store on Zazzle.
- Pre-Made Notepad in Yellow
- Pre- Made Notepad in Blue
- Pre-Made Notepad in Purple
- Pre-Made Notepad in Green
**2. Small Group Tracker: Turning on the Light in the Dark Room**
Understanding our students' misconceptions is like flicking on a light switch in a dark room. But sometimes capturing and documenting this information can give us all a headache. Cue in my easy to use small group tracker. By systematically recording and analyzing students progress and misconceptions with a specific topic, we gain insights into the roadblocks that may be hindering their progress and exactly what the next steps should be in helping them achieve mastery.
It's not just about re-teaching a specific procedure or concept; it's also about better understanding the specific challenges that stand in our students' way. When you are able to quickly jot down notes when their fresh in your mind during a small group session, you'll be able to later on analyze the results and quickly identify what the next steps are.
Small Group Tracker Format
- Identify Specific Content/Skill that is being reviewed
- Identify students strengths/strategies that were used
- Identify what the misconceptions are/areas of growth
- Identify Next Steps
Option 1: TpT Version: Printable PDF
You can grab the PDF version here from TpT Store so you can print your trackers for your small group interventions and even make an intervention binder with all your data.
Option 2: Ready to Use: Pre Made Teacher Notepad
If you don't have time to print them yourself. Grab a Pre-Made Teacher Notepad with my Small Group Trackers from my Teacher Theme Stationary store on Zazzle. Click below for the Pre Made Notepads.
**3. Weekly Check-Ins: Beyond Grades, Real Connection**
Grades are like snapshots, capturing a moment but not the entire story. That's where the magic of weekly check-ins comes in. It's not just about discussing numbers on a piece of paper; it's about having real, heart-to-heart chats with our students. These check-ins create a safe space where students feel seen, heard, and supported beyond just the grades.
This regular interaction nurtures a supportive environment where students can express concerns, seek advice, and receive the personalized support they truly need. Because, let's face it, teaching is not just about imparting knowledge; it's about building relationships that last a lifetime.
This is the perfect resource to use for your Advisory or with a mentee if your mentor this year. You can also refer this resource to related service providers like Counselors or Parents that want to really document these conversations with students to identify how to best support them at home.
Option 1: TpT Version: Printable PDF
You can grab the PDF version here from TpT Store so you can print your Weekly Checks in with students.
Option 2: Ready to Use: Pre Made Teacher Notepad
If you don't have time to print them yourself. Grab a Pre-Made Teacher Notepad from my Teacher Theme Stationary store on Zazzle. Click below for the Pre Made Notepads.
Incorporating these resources into your teaching toolkit will not only make your life easier as an educator but also cultivates a more personalized and effective learning experience for students. After all, isn't that what teaching is all about?
