What is the purpose of your class?  Can you clearly state it and can your students clearly state it? 

For example, in one of my classes, the purpose is “to write essays and a research paper,” while in another it is “to communicate effectively through a variety of different speeches.”  The mission statement gives the class a single focus. Some schools such as Taylor Elementary has a mission statement for each grade; some statements are strong academic ones.

I explain to my class that anyone can stop me if I am not focusing on the class mission. A student can ask, "How does this help us to learn to write essays or a research paper?"  If I cannot give a direct and concise answer, then I will stop whatever I am doing. Likewise, I can ask them the same question and if what they are doing does not relate to the mission, then they are to stop. I want them to realize fully that everything we do in class helps us achieve the mission.

I introduce each new goal by starting with the mission and then stating the specific aspect that we are learning. “In order to write essays and a research paper, you use topic sentences to organize your writing.” Students see that all parts of the class fit together under the mission.

What is the mission statement for your class? Do the students know it?

Dr. Harry Grover Tuttle focuses on assessing and improving student learning through low- and high-tech tools.

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