A Bookmark to Help Students Remember Their Goals and Strategies
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We really work to create a sense of urgency and ownership in our students. When students take ownership of their goals and learning, a powerful sense of accountability is established. However, if you are like us, you've conferred with children who can't remember what they were supposed to be focusing on. These promise cards really help.
Our colleague Darla Ryser uses the word promise with students, thinking that a promise carries more weight and meaning with a child than the word goal might. The promise cards function as bookmarks, providing ready reference to the goal and strategy the child is concentrating on. The goal goes in the left column, the strategy goes in the middle, and the date of completion goes on the right. We fill them out and add to them as students meet their goals, layering on new strategies as needed. Students love the visual proof of progress.
We've used them for writing as well. Students keep their cards in their writing folders. Here are some example goals and strategies for writing:
Conventions—Capitalize the first word in every sentence.
Conventions—Spell no-excuse words correctly.
Content—Use three different transition words to connect ideas.
Content—Support each idea with at least three supporting details.