Success Criteria: I Saw the Sign

 

In my past 4 Steps to Sequencing Learning - Number 3 Might Surprise You post, I outlined how to examine standards and plan a sequence of learning that will help students advance through the skills and concepts required for mastery.  The next step in this backwards design process is to determine the learning intentions.  In the post, Learning Intentions: Wide or Narrow Focus, I discussed how the learning intention (target, outcome, and other synonyms) help the learner understand the purpose and desired outcome of their learning.  This the learning destination.  While we are still at the planning table, preparing for the next unit, our collaborative TBTs (teacher based teams) will need to determine the turn-by-turn steps that the students will need to take to arrive at mastery; the success criteria. 

 Can your students answer this question?  How will you know you are successful?  Success Criteria help students regulate their learning by letting them know the end goal for the days lesson.  Success criteria, though, is more than just a task.  A non-example:  I know I am successful when I can complete page 240.

Simply put, success criteria are the indicators or landmarks on the way to mastery.  What will the students think, make, say, do, or write to show they are progressing towards mastery?  Success Criteria should be measurable, observable, and provide a means for students and teachers to track progress towards the goal of mastery.  Success criteria allow for teachers to provide feedback that coaches the learners to mastery. 

Success Criteria can be communicated in multiple ways:

• I can statements
• Rubrics
• Exemplars and Models
• Worked Samples 

Success Criteria

Let's see some examples:

 

Courtesy: S. Nelles, West Mound ES

 

Courtesy: S. VanSchaik,  West Mound ES

 

 

 

Success Criteria are the turn-by-turn GPS directions that lead to mastery.  These help students plan and predict what they will need to do, set goals, and judge their progress to the learning intention.  

Thanks for stopping by!

 Laura

Source:

The Teacher Clarity Playbook. This is the source I use when presenting PD and strongly encourage teachers and Teacher Based Teams to dig in!

Special Note: images were created for this post using resources Canva and Google Slides.

Other posts:

Types of Success Criteria

Success Criteria and Growth Mindset 

Also, the inspiration for the title comes from Ace of Base.  I shouldn't be the only person experiencing this earworm.