VERMONT'S FRAMEWORK OF STANDARDS & LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES

VITAL RESULTS Overview

Vital results cut across all fields of knowledge. In the classroom, vital result standards are combined with field

of knowledge standards. The following pages present standards for each of these vital results:

1. Communication

Reads to understand and reads critically, to interpret a variety of materials.

See standards for Reading, 1.1 — 1.4

Writes effectively for a variety of purposes.

See standards for Writing, 1.5 — 1.12 (Also includes 1.23-Poetry)

Listens actively for a variety of purposes.

See standards for Listening, 1.13 — 1.14

Expresses self with power and purpose.

See standards for Expression, 1.15 — 1.17

Uses the tools of information technology to communicate.

See standards for Information Technology, 1.18 — 1.22

2. Reasoning and Problem Solving

Asks meaningful questions.

See standards for Questioning/Problem Solving, 2.1

Chooses and uses effective means of solving problems.

See standards for Problem Solving, 2.2— 2.5

Approaches problem solving with an open mind, healthy skepticism, and persistence.

See standards for Approach, 2.6 — 2.9

Thinks abstractly and creatively.

See standards for Abstract and Creative Thinking, 2.10 — 2.14

3. Personal Development

Develops a sense of unique worth and personal competence.

See standards for Worth and Competence, 3.1 — 3.3

Makes healthy choices.

See standards for Healthy Choices, 3.4 —3.6

Makes informed decisions.

See standards for Making Decisions, 3.7 — 3.9

Develops productive and satisfying relationships with others.

See standards for Relationships, 3.10 —3.13

Demonstrates the skills necessary to participate in the workplace.

See standards for Workplace, 3.14 — 3.16

4. Civic / Social Responsibility

Learns by serving others, and participates in democratic processes.

See standards for Service, 4.1 — 4.2

Respects and values human diversity as part of our multi-cultural society and world.

See standards for Human Diversity, 4.3 — 4.4

Understands continuity and changes

See standards for Change, 4.5-4.6

Learning Opportunities

Learning opportunities are recommended practices to support all students in attaining the standards in this framework. They address access, instruction, assessment, and connections, as well as best practices particular to the fields of knowledge.

They are specific, they represent areas that can be influenced by the teacher, and they are supported by current research and best practices.

A. Access

Content

Instructors

Resources

Time

Safe and Healthy Environment

B. Instruction

Acquiring Knowledge and Skills

Variety of Instructor Roles

Multiple Student Roles

Application and Reflection

Adaptive Learning Environments

C. Assessment and Reporting

Assessment and Reporting

Multiple Assessment Strategies

Criteria

Using Assessments to Inform Instruction and Guide Student Learning

Student Involvement in Assessment

Effectively Communicating Assessment Information

D. Connections

Interdisciplinary Connections

Relevance

Family and Community Collaboration

E. Best Practices

Arts, Language, and Literature

History and Social Sciences

Science, Mathematics, and Technology