This year was a late year for starting to talk about the core competencies. However, I still wanted my students to really grasp what the core competencies mean and be able to be more aware of how they use their core competencies throughout the school day.
To get ideas about how other teachers were introducing the core competencies in their classes, I searched for the Twitter hashtag #corecompetencies, which yielded some very interesting ideas. One link that was particularly helpful was a Google PowerPoint presentation put together by a variety of teachers for the purpose of sharing how they were introducing and helping students to self-assess core competencies in their classroom https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1dQmtGWCanvT70GSNpbwUaLeNgu70-tLi3Z5TSFnq5PA/edit#slide=id.g1d4d01d2af_322_5.
From this PowerPoint, I found a helpful and concise resource for students to be able to understand the core competencies: https://curriculum.gov.bc.ca/sites/curriculum.gov.bc.ca/files/pdf/Core_Competencies_Posters.pdf.
To get ideas about how other teachers were introducing the core competencies in their classes, I searched for the Twitter hashtag #corecompetencies, which yielded some very interesting ideas. One link that was particularly helpful was a Google PowerPoint presentation put together by a variety of teachers for the purpose of sharing how they were introducing and helping students to self-assess core competencies in their classroom https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1dQmtGWCanvT70GSNpbwUaLeNgu70-tLi3Z5TSFnq5PA/edit#slide=id.g1d4d01d2af_322_5.
From this PowerPoint, I found a helpful and concise resource for students to be able to understand the core competencies: https://curriculum.gov.bc.ca/sites/curriculum.gov.bc.ca/files/pdf/Core_Competencies_Posters.pdf.
I divided the students into 6 groups and each group was given one aspect of a core competency
- Communication
- Critical thinking
- Creative thinking
- Personal awareness and responsibility
- Social responsibility
- Positive personal and social identity
After this activity, students had some ideas about what each of the core competencies were, but I wanted them to think further about how each activity they do at school relates to one or more of the core competencies. To facilitate this, I typed up all the activities that have been posted on Fresh Grade as well as other common classroom routines. As well, I created a three-way Venn diagram with the 3 competencies. In groups, students had to discuss and figure out whether only 1 competency applied to the activity or whether more than one competency was involved. Then they had to put the activity in the correct category. It was interesting to hear about students’ discussions and to hear their reasoning for why they put particular activities in particular categories.
Follow this link to download my free three-way Venn diagram of the core competencies.
Of course, the discussion about core competencies doesn’t stop when the activity ends. Rather, we will continue to bring up how core competencies are present and evident in each activity that we do as a class.
For the year end reflection, I am planning on getting students to reflect on one core competency at a time and to explain and give examples of how they have fulfilled that particular core competency. For the competencies that have more than one component, I will be asking students to give at least one example for each component and to reflect on their learning throughout the year. Students can use the three-way Venn diagram for ideas if they are stuck for examples. I look forward to seeing what the students come up with and to continuing to give them feedback in improving their reflection.
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