Organizing the Academic Program to Prepare Students for Post Secondary Learning
We all want to see our students graduate from high school …
We all want to see our students graduate from high school …
But what happens after graduation?
For every 8 who make it to college … 3 will never finish.
But what happens after graduation?
For every 8 who make it to college … 5 will need remedial
classes.
But what happens after graduation?
How do we improve the odds?
For every graduate who makes it to college, in their 1st year, they will be asked to…
• Write 90-100 polished pages• Read 5000 pages• Complete 6-8 Final Exams• Write 30 problem sets• Complete 10 labs• Undertake 4 research papers• Write 12 Argument Essays & Position Papers
to ensure that 100% of our graduates will have the skills necessary to earn
their college degrees?
How do we improve the
odds
• We assign work similar to the work students will see in college.
• We build stamina by gradually increasing the load. • We support competency by providing multiple opportunities
to practice Common Core aligned college prep tasks.
How do we improve the
odds?
Teacher-Directed Learning Opportunities
How can we support teachers in preparing
students for this work?
Teacher-Directed Learning Opportunities
Part 1: Modularized & Scaffolded Performance
Task Guides
The Performance Tasks are Designed to address
complexity, in 2 ways
1. The Formative Tasks
Tasks are modular, intentionally repetitive,
and adaptable.
2. Each Formative Task supports teachers with strategically
selected activities to support a skills-oriented approach to the
tasks.
Teacher-Directed Learning Opportunities
Part 2: A Performance Task Map
The typical work load for freshman year of
college
Part 1: A Map of Authentic College Prep. Performances
A sample year-by-year progression of performance
tasks for a student’s high school career.
If they will write 90-100 pages in the freshman
year of college, what do they need to write in the freshman year of HS?
If they will read 5000 pages in the freshman year of college,
how many pages will they need to read in 9th grade?
If they will perform 72 times as freshman in college, how many times should they
perform as freshman in high school?
Who should introduce students to these
performances? When? How? Who should follow
up on providing opportunities to practice?
Teacher-Directed Learning Opportunities
Part 3: A Performance Task Pacing Calendar
Example of 20 Weeks of Social Studies.
A Performance Task Pacing Calendar
Example Map of all 4 Core Academic Courses.
A Performance Task Pacing Calendar