6 Easy Steps to Teach Learning Skills!

It starts before the school year begins. The overwhelm of the huge checklist of curriculum we have to cover.

We know that the learning skills help students achieve success in all other aspects of learning. We have to discuss these skills with our students in order for them to achieve but most of us don’t teach these skills. In Ontario, our learning skills are Responsibility, Independent Work, Initiative, Organization, Collaboration and Self Regulation. Without mastering these skills, students are not able to learn, or achieve as they should in school.

We need to talk about these skills with our students, teach about them, get them to set goals, self assess and reflect on on how well they are doing on these goals.

I know, it seems like just something else to add to you plate but don’t worry. The work is really the students’ and I’ve got a fail proof plan.

Student Brainstorming and Selection of Learning Skills

Firstly, you are going to determine what your learning skills are for where you teach. As stated previously, in Ontario we focus on Responsibility, Independent Work, Initiative, Organization, Collaboration and Self Regulation. Grab 6 pieces of large paper and on the top of each paper write:

• I show Responsibility at school by…

• I can Independently work at school by…

• I show Initiative at school by…

• I am Organized at school by…

• I am Collaborative at school by…

• I can Self Regulate at school by…

and then place them all around your classroom.

Second, when students enter your classroom, get each of them to grab a marker. Explain that they are to visit each chart paper around the room writing down how they believe they show those skills in the classroom. I would go through each one before to make sure the students understand the definition of the word.

Thirdly, let your students wander around your room, reading the prompt, reading others examples and then adding to it. You should get a pretty good list of responses.

Then, get your students to go back around to each chart paper and put a checkmark beside the ones that they think are the most important or that we should focus on for the first school term.

Gather up all of the posters and discuss their choices as a class. Determine 2 goals for each skill that you will focus on. Type up a sheet with those learning skills that the class will focus on for the first term.

This is posted in my classroom.

Student Self Assessment and Goal Setting

I also create a slide with each skill and our focused goals. I give this out each week on Friday and get students to self assess on how well they believe they are doing on each goal. After the students self assess they also set goals to work on the next week. We write these goals on sticky notes so they are on their desk so they can be reminded of them on Monday and throughout the week.

To get your own copy, click here.

Assessment of Learning Skills

For my own assessment, I create a spreadsheet with our goals and my students names so I can take notes when they are working to have documentation and evidence for report cards and student conferences.

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This is such an essential thing to teach and practice with students but we often forget it. I hope this easy strategy will convince you to focus on learning skills in your classroom.

Let me know if you have any questions below!