S-K-S: Your Solution to Clear & Simple Objectives
Teachers,
Picture this: you're all set to embark on a road trip, but your GPS and the road signs don't match up. Confusing, right? Just like in teaching, when your objectives don't align with the standards, things can get tangled up. While Google created Google Maps, Dr. Nicole Teyechea has developed the S-K-S Model!
The S-K-S model—a fantastic tool that'll help you avoid the number one mistake teachers make in writing objectives.
The #1 Mistake: When Objectives and Standards Don't Align
We've all been there—trying to piece together a lesson plan that feels right, only to realize that the objectives just don't match up with the standards. This mismatch between what we're aiming to teach (objectives) and what students are expected to learn (standards) can lead to confusion, missed learning opportunities, and, well, inconsistent outcomes.
S-K-S Model: A Blueprint for Clarity
The S-K-S model, like a trusty GPS, serves as a scaffold to save you time and energy. It stands for Skill, Knowledge, Strategy, and it's designed to ensure that your objectives and standards are like perfect travel companions—always in sync and leading you toward your destination (aka effective learning!).
Skill (S): Think of the "S" in S-K-S as your road map for skills. What skills do your students need to develop? This step is about getting crystal clear on the abilities your students should gain at grade-level. Imagine if you're teaching a reaching concept—you'd want to identify the main idea skills they should be mastering. With the "S," you're setting the stage for a focused journey- are students identifying, analyzing, summarizing. It makes a difference!
Knowledge (K): Picking the Right Signposts: Now, let's consider the "K" for knowledge. This is about selecting the essential knowledge your students need to gather during their learning journey. Think of it as marking the must-see attractions on your road trip! Are students expected to work on the main idea, inferences, development of a concept, point of view or purpose? By pinpointing the key concepts within the standards, you're ensuring that your students learn to focus on what matters most.
Strategy (S): Plotting the Perfect Route: The "S" also stands for strategy, and this is where the transfer happens. It's like plotting the best route for your road trip. With strategy, you're choosing the learning methods and tools that will help your students reach their destination (learning objectives!). These strategies ensure that your students are engaged, active, and on track to meet the standards. This is what you assess!
S-K-S in Action: A Smooth Journey
Using the S-K-S model is like having a well-planned travel itinerary. When your objectives (where you want to go) are aligned with the standards (where you should be heading), you're setting your students up for a successful learning journey. No more wrong turns, missed landmarks, extra work or mismatched expectations!
So, Why Wait? Use S-K-S Today!
As a teacher or school leader, you're on a mission to provide the best learning experience for your students. And with the S-K-S model, you're equipped to ensure that your objectives align seamlessly with the standards. Just like a well-mapped road trip, S-K-S guides you toward effective teaching that leads to student success.
Don't let mismatched objectives and standards be a roadblock—use the S-K-S model to pave the way for clarity, focus, and remarkable learning outcomes. Your teaching journey just got a whole lot smoother!
Looking for how to identify strategies that help your students make sense of new learning and be able to express themselves using academic language, join our growing community, the Finita Teachers Facebook group!
Practice and share S-K-S:
Next week: What 6 strategies do students need to develop critical literacy skills when reading, listening, or watching new content?
Smiles,
Nicole Teyechea, PhD
A Finita Teacher on a Mission to Work Smarter
