Key Features of Understanding Goals U nderstanding goals identify the concepts, processes, and skills that we most want our students to understand. U nit-long understanding goals focus on the central aspects of a generative topic. Long Understanding Goals T o begin planning your unit-long understanding goals, make a first pass at articulating those goals. Brainstorming is often a good way to do this. Write down whatever comes to mind.
Many teachers find that working with a groups is often helpful here.
T ry stating your understanding goals as both questions and statements. Going back and forth between the two forms seems to help teachers refine their intentions. R emember, you do not have to start with understanding goals. For many teachers it is easier to begin with generative topics or performances of understanding, then try to identify understanding goals. State your unit long understanding goals explicitly for your students at the start of each unit.