Mastery of Knowledge & Skills
Claim #3 Evidence
FCE students take real ownership of their learning through student engaged assessment practices, fieldwork and opportunities to share learning with authentic audiences.
Fieldwork
"Fieldwork is not just about learning in the classroom. You get to actually go out and get your hands in the water and look for and learn about the animals and plants that are living in there.” Amelia, 4th grader
A part of every expedition at Fox Creek includes field work or service learning. Unlike traditional field trips, where students are spectators, through field work the walls of our classrooms are expanded as students conduct research and interact with professionals in the field. Participating in authentic learning experiences further develops, expands, and extends learning. Additionally, with the incorporation of service learning in expeditions, students are afforded the opportunity to respond to the needs of a community within their own sphere of influence. As we expand the walls of our classrooms service learning reinforces character traits such as contribution, respect, and compassion.
Student reflections from fieldwork: |
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Although extensive preparation and instruction occurs in the classroom prior to fieldwork and service learning experiences, when Fox Creek students are asked to reflect on those experiences, they have stated:
“Field work really helps you understand better. It gets you engaged. I have to work harder, but it’s a hands-on experience.” - Brianna
“I wish I could do it again. It was really fun, but I was exhausted!” - Vanessa |
“I never realized how whole communities worked together!” - Amelia
“I thought the Backcountry would be easy, but you have to take a lot of notes to be a scientist.” - Josh “I left with a feeling that I can do anything if I put my mind to it.” - Olivia |
“In the Backcountry, I learned a lot more than I expected.” - Jaxson
“You don’t just learn and have a boring experience. You have a fun experience, and you don’t even notice you are learning even though you know you are.” - Megan |
This video speaks to the role of fieldwork at Fox Creek
Student Learning Targets
“By the end of the lesson, I know what I should know, where I am if I’m not there, and I start asking questions.” - Parker, 5th grader
Learning targets are integral to every lesson and learning opportunity at Fox Creek. Whether presented at the top of a rubric or worksheet, displayed on a whiteboard, or incorporated into a document panel, the teachers of Fox Creek compose learning targets from the Colorado State Standards to provide students with concrete and achievable goals that they can understand and work toward.
Data from our learning walks showed that 74% of students could state the learning target upon which they were working during the observations. When further questioned, students stated:
“If I make a mistake, I can look back at the learning target to get an idea of what my mistake is.” - Elizabeth
“Learning targets help me explain what I have accomplished that day, or what I still need to work on.” - Brooke “When I see a learning target, it tells me how high I need to get to meet the target.” - Jake “They help me understand that I can hit or go past that goal. They also help me if I can’t do that learning target. Then, I can ask the teacher about a specific question on the learning target.” - Megan “Learning targets help me push through hard lessons.” - Paul |
Student Led Conferences
“ I thought the conference was much more engaging for my daughter. She wasn’t just sitting there and listening, she was actually sharing her learning. She was able to speak to the learning and not just a test score or a product. It was so much more authentic. It wasn’t just about what the teacher was teaching, it was about what my daughter is learning.” Sara Schumacher, parent
When surveyed, 72% of third through sixth grade students responded that they liked student-led conferences, and 95% of teachers responded that they observed a growth in the depth of thinking and reflection by students during student-led conferences. Additionally, 100% of teachers recognized an impact on student achievement with the implementation of student led conferences.
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Both parents and students have benefited from student led conferences as they initiated meaningful and purposeful conversations that both inform and guide student growth and achievement.
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This video speaks to the importance of Student Led Conferences
Celebration of Learning
"I love seeing an increased level of maturity that you see in kids at the Celebration of Learning. Between presentation skills and just a basic high level of understanding of the work they are doing - it’s amazing. It’s also really nice to be able to see the work and progress of other students as well as your own.”
Lisa Keller, parent
School Wide Celebration of Learning, December 2014
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School Wide Celebration of Learning, December 2016
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Example of the visitor learning targets during the Celebration of Learning
FCE's Celebration of Learning Program
Click on the picture below to view the complete program.
Experts
"Experts are the lighthouse of the expedition. They lead us through the dark and get us to our celebration of learning because they give us the understanding that we could not get on our own." Zooey, 5th grader
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As teachers at Fox Creek, we recognize breadth and depth of our knowledge in pedagogy and instructional practice, while at the same time recognizing the limits to the breadth and depth of our content knowledge with respect to providing long-term, authentic, and meaningful learning experiences for students. At Fox Creek we have worked diligently to identify and incorporate experts into our expeditions therein providing students with comprehensive and authentic content knowledge that expands and deepens the relevance of learning expeditions. |