Visualizing Success: Centennial’s Student-Centered Approach to Tracking Progress
Visualizing Success: Centennial’s Student-Centered Approach to Tracking Progress
We are excited to share a new initiative designed to help students take ownership of their learning by tracking their own progress. Inspired by The Art and Science of Teaching by Robert Marzano, Centennial is using a student-centered approach when it comes to progress tracking. This innovative method motivates students by providing a clear view of their progress toward individual goals, fostering a sense of responsibility and pride in their achievements.
The concept is simple: students use visual tools to monitor their performance in real time. For example, in reading fluency, students participate in one-minute timed readings multiple times each month. They graph their own scores, observing improvements over time and celebrating milestones along the way. This real-time feedback not only keeps students engaged in their own learning, but also eliminates surprises at the end of grading periods, encouraging consistent effort and growth.
Progress tracking isn’t limited to reading. Math classes are beginning to use similar tools for tracking basic facts and assessment scores, while social-emotional learning goals are also being integrated into this model. Teachers provide the data and support, but the shift in responsibility empowers students to set their own goals and stay motivated to achieve them. As one fourth-grader, Jirene, explained, "I like knowing I’m getting better at things."
The initiative is already yielding positive results, with students expressing pride in their progress and enthusiasm for their learning journeys. Principal Colleen Mahoney said that when she visits classrooms, students are eager to show off their graphs and share their achievements. By providing both accountability and motivation, Centennial’s progress tracking initiative is setting a new standard for student engagement and success.
This approach is just the beginning. As the staff at Centennial continues to expand progress tracking to other subjects, we are excited to see the long-term impact on students’ learning experiences.
You can watch the school board presentation on Centennial’s progress tracking and hear directly from some of the students involved on our YouTube channel.
(Photo: Mr. Clingan and Juan are having a conversation about Juan's reading fluency chart.)
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By providing both accountability and motivation, our progress tracking initiative is setting a new standard for student engagement and success.
Centennial fourth and fifth graders had a special visitor: Emma Jackson, a recent Northwestern University graduate and a manufacturing and design engineer, who shared her career journey and her development of a safe and inclusive bike helmet.