Learning & Growth
Learning and growth in D102 is all about "Every Day, Every Student." Teachers in D102 are exceptional educators who craft meaningful, authentic, and collaborative learning opportunities that are as much about the process as the products of student learning. Every day, students are engaged in rigorous learning opportunities that are designed for continuous growth toward the district learning standards as well as the Portrait of a Graduate.
Approach to Learning and Growth
D102's Portrait of a Graduate outlines the competencies that are developed in our district's students in early childhood through eighth grade. When students graduate from our district, they will be equipped not only with the knowledge of many subject areas, but also will have developed essential skills that will contribute to their success in high school and beyond. Students will leave D102 having grown in the following competency areas: critical thinking, creativity, perseverance, kindness, integrity, collaboration, and adaptability.
Authentic, Relevant Learning
We believe in creating conditions where learning is relevant, meaningful, authentic, engaging, and personalized for students. Students need the opportunity to show mastery of rigorous content, learn how to think critically and solve problems, work collaboratively, communicate effectively, direct one’s own learning, and develop a growth mindset. Trial and error, time for reflection, communicating progress, and identifying strengths and weaknesses are important components in developing the attributes outlined in our Portrait of A Graduate.
Why is curriculum and instruction more than content?
Curriculum, instruction, and learning environments are designed with the understanding that students will graduate into a world where the demands of professional, personal, and public lives grow more complicated every year.
Information analysis and critical thinking: Our students encounter increasing amounts of information every day. It will be important to distinguish what is reliable and how to use it.
Perseverance and adaptability: In a fast-paced world with ready-made solutions at our fingertips, it is increasingly important that students learn "productive struggle"- how to overcome challenges and change course after failed attempts.
An innovative, creativity-driven economy: Students will enter a job market that rewards creativity, flexible thinking, on-the-job learning, and comfort with technology.
A more globally-connected world: Classmates and coworkers may live in the same zip code or across the globe.
Expanded social interactions: Citizens are active in physical communities, online-social media communities, local politics, as well as global initiatives.
