Colorado Springs School District 11 Playbook
Continuous Cycle of Standards-Based
Teaching & Learning
BEFORE INSTRUCTION
Clarify Learning Targets and Plan
What do students need to know, understand, and be able to do?
Practice: Teachers clarify standards-based learning targets, define mastery
and deliberately plan for effective assessment and instruction.
Strategies:
 Define Mastery
 Develop Assessment Tasks
 Design Standards-Based Unit & Lessons
 Communicate Clear Learning Targets
AFTER INSTRUCTION
Determine Response to Instruction
What do we do when students don’t learn or
when they reach mastery before expectation?
Practice: Teachers will determine each student’s
need for further differentiated instruction based
on a body of evidence.
Strategies:
 Analyze Student Data
 Verify Access
 Differentiate Further
DURING INSTRUCTION
Ensure Effective Classroom Practice
How will we teach effectively to ensure
students learn?
Practice: Teachers ensure students equity through
challenging, deliberate and effective instruction.
Strategies:
 Develop Positive Classroom Culture
 Establish Effective Classroom Management
 Communicate & Model Clear Learning Targets
 Guarantee Access for All
 Build Disciplinary Literacy
 Balance Instructional Design
 Differentiate Instruction
DURING INSTRUCTION
Check for Understanding
How will we know that students have learned?
Practice: Teachers check for understanding to inform
instruction and foster student ownership of learning.
Strategies:
 Seek Evidence of Learning
 Advance Learning Through Feedback
 Develop Student Ownership of Learning
Adapted from Benson, David J. (2008). The Standards-Based Teaching/Learning Cycle: A Guide to Standards-Based Practices
for Districts and Schools in Colorado. Denver, CO: The Colorado Coalition for Standards-Based Education™
http://www.cde.state.co.us/Communications/download/PDF/StandardsBasedTeachingLearningCyclepdf.pdf (accessed 08.2012)
Revision 08.08.2012