Portrait of a Learner

Students expressed a strong desire to connect knowledge and skills learned in the classroom to life beyond the school and experiences that prepare them for the real-world, including career exposure. 

This domain not only seeks to better support students with their understanding of life as learners past their time in Lyon CSD schools, but also to connect their in-school learning with their lives outside of school, including their day-to-day hobbies, talents, skills and interests. 

Diving into the Domain: Learning for Life

Learning for Life is all about equipping students with skills and knowledge that extend far beyond the classroom. This domain emphasizes real-world applicability, ensuring that each learning experience contributes to students' readiness for life’s challenges and opportunities. Through Learning for Life, we are fostering lifelong learners who can adapt and thrive in an ever-evolving world. 

Learning for Life Student Competencies

Within Learning for Life, there are three key competencies that students are learning and applying.  The following provides an example of what success in each competency looks and feels like from the student’s perspective. Each sentence is a way students might demonstrate their growth in each competency (skill). The Learning for Life competencies are:

• Perseverance
• Application
• Future Focus

Perseverance

When a students hones in on perseverance, they are striving to fulfill the following statements:

• I am becoming a confident learner.
• I can overcome challenges and problems.
• I can work through a problem even when no one tells me to.
• I am able to learn from mine and other’s mistakes.
• I can view failure as a learning experience and opportunity. 

Application

When a students hones in on application, they are striving to fulfill the following statements: 

• I am a reliable student, classmate, and member of the Lyon County community.
• I am able to acquire skills related to my future interests and goals.
• I can search for and plan to take on any task in life because I have learned the steps to do so.

Future Focus

When a students hones in on future focus, they are striving to fulfill the following statements:

• I am building the skills that I’ll need to continue learning new things throughout my life.
• I know how to apply what I’m learning to life beyond school.
• I know how to explore my college and career options.

One of the strengths of the Lyon County community is the relationships that are fostered in schools, and how meaningful and impactful it is when students feel cared for, work in collaboration with each other and with LCSD staff, and feel connected to their community. 

This domain captures students’ sense of belonging in their schools, building relationships with peers and staff and building strong skills in communicating across lines of difference and are actively working in the community. 

Diving into the Domain: Connected Learners

Connected Learners is focused on cultivating students’ ability to build relationships, communicate effectively, and work collaboratively. This domain emphasizes the importance of fostering connections that prepare students for meaningful, real-world interactions. Through Connected Learners, we are guiding students to become engaged and collaborative individuals who thrive in a connected world.

Connected Learners Student Competencies

Within Connected Learners, there are three key competencies that students are learning and applying. The following provides examples of how students experience and demonstrate growth in each area.  Each sentence is a way students might demonstrate their growth in each competency (skill). The Connected Learner competencies are:

• Belonging
• Communication
• Collaboration

Belonging

When a students hones in on belonging, they are striving to fulfill the following statements:

• I feel genuinely cared for in my school.
• I feel safe and welcomed in my school.
• I am able to be my authentic self in learning and in school.
• I am developing my personal, cultural, and community identity. 

Communication

When a students hones in on communication, they are striving to fulfill the following statements: 

• I can express my ideas and thoughts clearly through a variety of methods.
• I can build relationships with people I perceive to be different from myself.
• I can communicate across different perspectives (e.g., I know how to navigate and learn from different
  perspectives).
• I can communicate to resolve conflict.

Collaboration

When a students hones in on collaboration, they are striving to fulfill the following statements:

• I interact and collaborate with my peers to help me learn.
• I know which adults I can turn to when I need support.
• I know which adults can help me reach my goals.
• I share my learning with my family.
• I am a proactive contributor to my school and to my community.

In developing this domain, we considered the idea of agency, and how agency is demonstrated in learning. Students who felt strongest in their learning had a sense of understanding of how they learn at a metacognitive level and expressed their use of self-awareness strategies to improve their skill-building and knowledge and guide their own learning journeys.

This domain portrays students in the driver's seat of their learning. It’s important that students have a sense of ownership and an understanding that they have choices they can make.

Diving into the Domain: Student Ownership

Student Ownership is dedicated to fostering independence, self-awareness, and a sense of responsibility in each learner. This domain emphasizes empowering students to take charge of their educational journey, helping them develop the skills needed for personal growth and self-guided learning. Through Student Ownership, we are nurturing students who are motivated, self-aware, and prepared to make thoughtful choices for their futures.

Student Ownership Student Competencies

Within Student Ownership, there are three key competencies that students are learning and applying. The following provides examples of how students experience and demonstrate growth in each area: Each sentence is a way students might demonstrate their growth in each competency (skill). The Connected Learner competencies are:

• Empowerment
• Self-Knowledge
• Self-Direction

Empowerment

When a students hones in on empowerment, they are striving to fulfill the following statements:

• I can independently make decisions about the right next steps for my learning and well-being.
• I know how to learn more about what interests me and choose learning options based on my interests.
• I can build the skills needed for success and can take action to achieve my goals.
• I am encouraged to advocate for what I need in my learning
   

Self-Knowledge

When a students hones in on self-knowledge, they are striving to fulfill the following statements: 

• I know why I’m learning what I’m learning.
• I can demonstrate my knowledge and mastery of skills in ways that best fit my learning style and/or I
  can demonstrate my learning in multiple ways.
• I understand my own strengths as a learner and can practice applying those skills to my learning.
• I have strategies to calm my mind and body when I experience stress or anxiety.

Self-Direction

When a students hones in on self-direction, they are striving to fulfill the following statements:

• I own and take an active role in my learning.
• I am actively involved and engaged in lessons and projects.
• I know how and when to use classroom and school resources to move my learning forward.
• I can set learning goals and initiate my learning.
• I’m motivated to engage further in my learning.

Students mentioned wanting to bring more of themselves into their learning, including applying their creativity, and exploring their interests.

This domain seeks to incorporate multiple pathways for students to learn, hands-on learning opportunities, problem-solving and critical thinking skills, as well as joy, choice and love of learning through exploration and self-awareness.

Diving into the Domain: Discovery Learning

Discovery Learning encourages hands-on and problem-based learning. This domain creates opportunities for students to think critically, engage deeply, and solve problems. By focusing on Discovery Learning, we support students in becoming deductive learners who enjoy exploring new ideas and challenges.

Discovery Learning Student Competencies

Within Discovery Learning, there are three key competencies that students are learning and applying. The following provides examples of how students experience and demonstrate growth in each area.  Each sentence is a way students might demonstrate their growth in each competency (skill). The Discovery Learning competencies are:

• Problem-Solving
• Joy
• Exploration

Problem Solving

• I can evaluate a variety of solutions to solve complex problems.
• I engage in rigorous learning and critical thinking.
• I combine new information with what I know to come up with new ideas.

Joy

• I have a passion and desire to pursue learning.
• I am able to express my creativity and feel inspired in my learning.
• I celebrate both my failures and successes as opportunities for learning.

Exploration

• I can explore what I’m interested in to help me prepare for life around me.
• I can choose different pathways and flexible learning experiences to pursue my learning goals.
• I can pursue my learning goals in opportunities beyond the classroom (externships, work studies, etc.).
• I search for new information to discover, seek answers, and identify solutions.
• I know what career opportunities my community offers.