Beginning a Learner- Centered Classroom

1. Shared Vision via Affinity Diagram

Possible Questions to Use:
1. What makes a good teacher?
2. What makes a good student?
3. What does it mean to be a 21st Century Learner?
4. What makes you feel like a successful learner?
5. What does a 21st Century Scientist look like?
6. What does an ideal classroom sound like, feel like, and look like?
2. Code of Conduct via Brainstorm
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What does it look like to work in a whole group?

What does it look like to work with a partner?
What does it look like to work in a small group?
What does it look like to work individually?
What does it look like when we leave the room during our class period?
What does it look like when we have visitors in the room?
What does it look like when we walk around the room when others are
working?

3. What is a Learner Centered Classroom? (Take time to teach learners what this
looks like)
Balanced instruction
Learners write goals
Learners plan what they need to learn
Learners help one another
Learners take responsibility for their own learning and learning
environment
Learners will track their own progress
4. Learning Style
Give learners a learning-style assessment
Teach learners about different learning types
Use this data to chart learning types in the class
Brainstorm how to help each type of learner in the class
5. Pre-assessment and Self-Assessment for your Content Area.
6. Goal-Setting
Teach learners how to set short term, long term, mid-year goals

Teach and Model what PDCA means and how to use during the goalsetting process
Model how to set a goal
Analyze pre-assessment and learning style data to set a content goal or
personal/social goal

7. Teach the SBS Processes:

5 Whys
Affinity Diagram
Consensogram
LACI
T-chart
Think-Pair-Share
Parking Lot
Self-Assessment Poster-Have learners make magnet name tag to put on
poster to self-assess
CRIS
P.I.E.R/Smart Process
Peaks and Valleys
8. Model and teach learners how to work in Affective Collaborative Groups.
Introduce collaborative group roles and teach role responsibilities
Roles may include: (artist, inspirer, recorder, time keeper, runner,
informer, speaker)
Show the purpose and benefits of collaborative groups
Show how collaborative groups will have a positive effect on their real
lives
Have learners brainstorm the benefits and disadvantages of homogenous
and heterogeneous groups
9. Teach learners how to read and create rubrics.
What is a rubric?
How do I read a rubric?
How will rubrics be used in a learner centered classroom?
Create a rubric with the class
10. Teach learners how to locate and use resources to accomplish their goals.
What is a resource?
Where are resources in the room?
Where are the resources in the school?
Where are resources at home?
Where are resources in the community?

11. Create a Flow-Chart

Create a flowchart with your learners to follow giving clear procedures of
what do to next in your classroom
12. Build portfolios with the learners.
Have learners pick a portfolio style that works for them or the teacher.
Have learners design their portfolio with the Shield of Arms or any other
activity to personalize portfolio
Explain to the student the mandatory documents required in the portfolio
Explain to learners what they will add to the portfolio
Begin using portfolio for all goals, PLPs, assessments, and student
tracking
13. Setting up a Personal Learning Plan (PLP)
Model the use of a PLP form
Have learners write a PLP for a specified time limit (quarter, week, unit
semester)
Created by A50 teachers modified by Bil Pfaffendorf 2014