Periodically, students use these logs to look back at their learning over time, to discover what helped and hindered, and to develop more effective learning strategies and goals for the future. Students develop portfolios of their work, including essays, notes, completed homework, projects, drawings, lab reports, field notes, word problems, research data, proofs, graphs, tests, or even selections from their learning logs. Periodically students review and update the contents of their portfolios, and write about how these materials show what they have learned and what they want to pursue in the future. DONE Teachers need to reassess their teaching and reexamine their students' learning. If students are not working and learning, investigate and try out ways to structure more active, language-centered teaching and learning.
Teachers can examine language uses in their classrooms.
Teachers can restructure their teaching and their classrooms, sharing some of the control over the course of study with students, and can learn alongside their students. Teachers should ground their thinking and teaching in current language research and theory. Administrators need to support innovative teachers through professional development opportunities and evaluation criteria which recognize and celebrate innovation. Parents should expect to see different classrooms from those they remember. They will see classrooms where talk prevails, students often work in groups, and students actively participate in many projects.