GOAL DETECTIVES
A teacher writes: “Students will understand fractions.” Which revision is strongest?
A. Students will appreciate fractions
B. Given 8 fraction pairs, students will compare at least 7 correctly.
B. Given 8 fraction pairs, students will compare at least 7 correctly.
'specifies an observable action, conditions, and a measurable success criterion'
A teacher teaches prerequisite steps before a complex task. Which pillar is this?
A. Judicious review
B. Logical hierarchy
C. Clear Criterion
B. Logical hierarchy
"Logical hierarchy sequences instruction from foundational to more complex learning"
A goal says “Given a visual model…” Which ACCOMPLISH element is shown?
A. Antecedent conditions
B. Socially Valid
C. High reaching
A. Antecedent conditions
"Antecedent conditions specify prompts, materials, or circumstances"
“I do, we do, you do” is an example of…
A. Judicious review
B. Mediated scaffolding
C. Clear criterion
B. Mediated scaffolding
"Mediated scaffolding gradually transfers responsibility to the learner"
A student can explain a procedure but cannot demonstrate it. What evidence is missing?
A. An observable performance
B. A more exciting lesson title
C. More homework
A. An observable performance
Which sequence best reflects teaching different skills before similar skills?
A. Teach two easily confused concepts simultaneously
B. Establish distinct skills first, then compare similar ones
B. Establish distinct skills first, then compare similar ones
"Distinguishing skills before introducing similar ones can reduce confusion"
A goal states “correctly on 9 of 10 trials.” Which element?
A. Individualized
B. Clear criteria
C. Big ideas
B. Clear criteria
"Clear criteria specify the threshold for success"
Before a new unit, students connect prior experiences to a new idea. This is…
A. Primed background knowledge
B. Antecedent conditions
C. Low-frequency content
A. Primed background knowledge
"Priming background knowledge links established understanding to new ideas"
Which goal is measurable and positive?
A. Students will not get confused
B. Students will understand equations
C. Students will solve 4 of 5 equations correctly
C. Students will solve 4 of 5 equations correctly
A teacher prioritizes frequently used content over rare exceptions. Which pillar?
A. Teach common before low-frequency content
B. Individualize the criterion
C. Teach without scaffolding
A. Teach common before low-frequency content.
"The slide explicitly prioritizes common content before low-frequency content"
A teacher adjusts a target based on a learner’s IEP. Which element?
A. Observable
B. Individualized
C. Common content
B. Individualized
"Individualized goals respond to a student’s documented learning needs"
A teacher deliberately connects a newly taught strategy to last week’s lesson. This is…
A. Clear criteria
B. Strategic integration
C. Positive behavior
B. Strategic integration
"Strategic integration builds on instruction that has already occurred"
CHALLENGE: A goal says “Students will identify evidence.” What addition makes it stronger?
A. Add "with enthusiasm"
B. Add a clear condition and accuracy criterion
C. Add the textbook chapter
C. Add a clear condition and accuracy criterion
"A specific condition and criterion make the evidence interpretable"
Which lesson best integrates all four pillars?
A. Sequence prerequisites, distinguish skills, prioritize common content, connect ideas
B. Teach rare exceptions first, then basics
C. Random activities and one final quiz
A. Sequence prerequisites, distinguish skills, prioritize common content, connect ideas
"All four pillars should inform the sequence and connections across instruction"
Which goal best combines observable, measurable, positive, and socially useful?
A. Student will stop being bad at reading
B. Given five school signs, student will identify their meanings correctly on four
B. Given five school signs, student will identify their meanings correctly on four
"The task describes a useful action and a scoreable criterion"
Students revisit a concept using notes, examples, and short practice tasks. This illustrates…
A. No scaffolding
B. Judicious review
B. Judicious review
"Judicious review uses multiple opportunities to strengthen understanding."
Original goal: “Students will understand fractions.”
Create a stronger goal AND name two instructional moves from the four pillars or connection strategies that would support it.
Goal: Given 8 fraction pairs and visual models, students will correctly compare at least 7 pairs.
Instruction: Teach prerequisite fraction concepts in a logical hierarchy; use mediated scaffolding (I do → we do → you do).