It is the perfect time for teachers and principals to challenge our students. We have established routines, relationships and cultural tones in our classrooms. Performance tasks (also called project based learning) are ways for students to demonstrate learning that can be produced, published or performed. Creating these opportunities now will allow for teacher reflection time and then future attempts. Performance tasks are intentional plans for the release of students. Teachers find that there is alot of work up front in planning and developing but if time is invested in specific content, explicit steps, clear timelines and objectives then students will benefit tremendously. They will enjoy and OWN their learning; plus there is usually choice, socializing and freedom which kids love too.
Five Steps
1. Decide the instructional focus of Student Learning. (What will the students be able to do, understand, know, etc.)
2. What are the learning targets?
example: Common Core Standards
3. Create a Performance Task – Write an overview of the Task
example: Create an animal presentation
4. Create a Performance Measure (Rubric, Checklist, etc.)
This can be developed in collaboration with
5. Build the Rest of the Lesson – Procedures, Timelines, Steps, and Student Materials.
Planning Guide for Performance Task– Google doc
2 principals 