👉 A principle or example or measure used for comparison.
Alright class, settle down now, let’s take a look! That dictionary definition – “a principle or example or measure used for comparison” – that’s a good starting point, it’s true. But what does ‘standards’ really mean in the world of learning? Think about it like this: imagine you're building with LEGO bricks. You have a picture of what you want to create, right? That picture is your goal! Standards are like the blueprints for that build. They tell us exactly how we should be doing things – how well students should understand a topic, or how skillfully they should write a sentence. They’re not just random rules, you see. They're designed to help everyone learn at roughly the same pace and reach a similar level of knowledge. It’s like setting a bar - a really important bar - for what we expect students to achieve. Here are some ways to think about them: Principles: They're core ideas – "Students should be able to read with comprehension" or “They should understand basic math concepts.” Examples: They might describe how that principle is demonstrated - like, "A student showing comprehension can answer questions about the story." Measures: They often have specific benchmarks – "Students will be able to solve addition problems up to 100” or “Their writing will demonstrate clear topic sentences.” Essentially, standards are our way of saying: "This is what we want students to know and be able to do." Does that make sense? Do you have any questions about how standards guide our teaching and learning? Let’s discuss!
