Two tips for teachers

Here are two handy tips for teachers using the Learning Record:

Tip 1: In Word you can choose Navigation Pane from the View menu. This provides a handy navigation menu to the left that allows readers to jump directly from one part of the LR to another. Simply click on one of the items in the navigation menu to jump to that point. The navigation pane can be resized to make it wider or narrower. The triangles allow you to collapse or expand sections of the menu.

Tip 2: I've found it helpful to create a visual reminder of where I am in the process of responding to Learning Records. I use Apple's file label colors to do this. You will find these in the File menu when you have a file or folder selected. The students' LR folders, once I have received them and put them into the class folder have no label. When I have read one, I make its file label red. When I have emailed the teacher comments to the student, I turn the file label blue.

New forms and information posted

There are several additions to the Learning Record web site: On the downloads page we have posted all official Learning Record forms for grades K-6, 6-12, and college courses. We have also posted the files for grade level expectations for K-12 students. These chart where on the developmental scales we expect students to fall at each grade level.

The grades K-6 and 6-12 Learning Record files are provided in multiple formats. The .doc and .rtf files are intended for those using computers to complete the forms. They include copies of the scales and scale descriptors. There are also print versions of the K-6 and 6-12 Learning Record forms for those completing them by hand.

We suggest that beginning about grade 4, students begin contributing to the Learning Record, gradually taking over more and more of the responsibility for their own record. By high school the student should be expected to take full responsibility for the Learning Record, with teachers responding as needed. Where teachers in middle school or junior high schools have multiple classes we recommend they use the secondary (6-12) version of the Learning Record.

Some high school classes may lend themselves to the college-level Learning Record, so high school teachers may want to familiarize themselves with it. Be sure to read the teacher's manual, which describes how to transfer Learning Record files and teacher comments between the student and the teacher.

Moderation instructions may be useful for teachers at any level. The basic principles described can be adapted for particular situations. The moderation process provides a "reality check" for the evaluations provided by teachers and students.

Please let me know if you have any questions!

Peg Syverson