Learning and Expectations

“High achievement always takes place in the framework of high expectations”
– Charles Kettering

Student learning and growth both academic and social-emotional is our goal. Essential to this is our school community committing to the belief that all students can learn at high levels. We must get to know our students and their interests so that we may design authentic learning opportunities based on where they are as individuals learners. To do this we will repeatedly ask four critical questions.

• What do we want our students to learn?
• How do we know if they have learned it?
• How will we respond if they do not learn?
• How will we respond if they already know it?

In addition to this we need to empower our students to take pride and ownership in their own learning. John Hattie, a professor of education and Director of the Melbourne Education Research Institute at the University of Melbourne, Australia has spent 15 years synthesizing over 800 meta-analyses, or combined results from various educational research studies, to come up with a list of 138 factors that influence student achievement. Number 1 on the list, and the greatest factor on student achievement, is students own knowledge of their performance. Growth takes place and confidence is built when students know where they are and teachers push them to exceed their own expectations of themselves.

Leadership

“Everyone is a leader, because everyone influences someone.”
– John Maxwell

We must establish a community of leaders. Our world not only needs our extrovert leaders with the larger than life personalities. We also need our quiet leaders as well. We should approach the idea of leadership from a more holistic view. Leaders in fact come in all shapes, sizes, and personalities. Even something small, such as helping a friend in need, is act leadership not only because you are offering assistance but you are setting an example for others. All of our students should leave Kipling knowing that each and every one of them can be a positive influence in the lives of others and a force for good and positive change in our world.