I was pleased to find validation for a learning activity I had considered part of my work all along. In viewing knowledge and skills in the context of students' lives, EFF is broad enough to fit with much of what I already do. By offering a multitude of paths to explore the framework, as different roles and purposes for learning manifest themselves, it also encourages my students and me to consider our lessons from a number of different perspectives, without being prescriptive. This fits with the idea of a literacy spiral, where one activity or inquiry might send students and teachers off in many directions and involve a range of complexities. Just like real life.
Standards work when they codify our internal values and respect our individuality.
Standards work when they encourage a dialogue between those realms. The application of standards is an activity of correlation and contrast. When I ask students if they've noted improvements in their reading, writing, and math abilities, they often look to the past and compare. My learners and I often look to their initial goals and compare. We often look toward an ideal and compare.