Portrait of a Graduate
As we commence the 2016-17 school, we have begun to reflect on the basic AIMS of this school year and every year. We are asking ourselves again the simple question; what do want our students to be like when they leave us in the 8th grade? We call this the Portrait of a Graduate. A few years back, as we gathered all our teachers together for the first day back from summer break, we asked groups of teachers to draw and label their portraits of graduates as a reflective and focusing opening activity. They produced a beautiful list of attributes and characteristics they aim to help develop in every Rio student. The list is really long but also really wonderful.
| portrait of graduate words | frequency by # groups |
| 21st century learner | |
| able to teach the subjects | |
| academically productive | |
| accepting | |
| accountability | |
| active | |
| active listener | |
| acts locally | |
| adventurous | |
| always interested | |
| analytical | 5 |
| articulate | 3 |
| artistic | 3 |
| assertive | |
| athletic | 2 |
| bilterate | |
| brave | |
| bright future | |
| capable | |
| caring | 9 |
| categorize | |
| choices | |
| citizenship | |
| clear,competent communicators | 2 |
| collaborative | 9 |
| college algebra | |
| college bound | 3 |
| compare | |
| compassion | 7 |
| competentreaders,writers, mathematicians | |
| competitive | |
| comprehends | 2 |
| computation | |
| confidence | 13 |
| construct | |
| coooperative problem solver | |
| cooperative | 3 |
| courteous | |
| creative | 9 |
| creative thinker | |
| critical reader | |
| critical thinker | 7 |
| critical thinking consumers | |
| criticize | |
| culturally aware | 2 |
| curious | 5 |
| dedicated | |
| dedicated inquirers | |
| detial oriented | |
| develop goals | |
| diagram | |
| diligent | |
| disciplined | |
| doesnt give up | |
| driven to make a difference | |
| eager to learn | |
| effective communicator | |
| empathetic | 4 |
| enthusiastic about learning | |
| environmentally conscious | |
| evaluate | |
| excellent problem solvers | |
| exercises body and mind | |
| explore | |
| eye contact | |
| fluent readers | |
| focused | |
| formulate | |
| friendly | |
| fun | |
| future minded | |
| future teacher | |
| global citizen learner | 5 |
| goal oriented | 4 |
| good character | |
| good listener | 3 |
| good social skills | |
| good speller | |
| good work ethic | |
| happy | 2 |
| healthy | 4 |
| helping hands | |
| high self esteem | |
| humble | |
| imaginative | 4 |
| independent | 3 |
| independent learner | |
| independent thinkers | |
| independent worker | 2 |
| initiative | |
| innovative | 2 |
| inquiring/ inquisitive | 7 |
| insatiable reader | |
| inspirational | |
| inspired | |
| integrity | 2 |
| intellectual conversation | |
| intellectually curious | |
| intelligent | |
| interpret | |
| investigate | |
| kind | 3 |
| language arts | |
| leader/ skills | 4 |
| life long learner | 3 |
| listener | |
| logical thinker | |
| love of learning | 3 |
| love of reading | 3 |
| loves to travel | |
| manners | |
| math/ skills | 2 |
| mature | 2 |
| mindfulness | |
| morals | |
| motivated | 3 |
| mover and shaker | |
| multicultural | 2 |
| multifaceted | |
| multilingual | 2 |
| music | |
| Nice | |
| note taking skills | |
| observant | 2 |
| open minded | 2 |
| organized | 3 |
| participates | |
| passionate | 3 |
| peace builder | 3 |
| perceptive | |
| perseverance | 4 |
| physically fit | 3 |
| polite | |
| positive attitude | |
| positive behavior support | |
| positive self concept | |
| predict | |
| prepared | |
| proactive | |
| problem solver | 11 |
| proficient | |
| project based learner | |
| projects voice | |
| prompt | |
| proud | |
| public speaking | 2 |
| pursue goals | |
| readers,avid,fluent, comprehending | 7 |
| real life problem solver | 2 |
| reasoning | |
| reflective thinker | |
| research | |
| resilient | |
| resourceful | 3 |
| respectful | 7 |
| responsible | 8 |
| rich vocabulary | |
| risk taker | 4 |
| satisfied | |
| science | |
| scientific thinker | |
| seeks knowledge | |
| self aware | |
| self image strong | 2 |
| self motivated | 2 |
| serve others locally, nationally, globally | 2 |
| social media | |
| socially aware | |
| speaks for themselves | |
| strategies | |
| strong | |
| successful | 2 |
| synthesize and evlauate info | |
| team builder | |
| team player | 3 |
| techno-savvy/literate | 10 |
| thinks for themselves | |
| thinks globally | |
| thoughtful | 3 |
| tolerant | |
| understanding | |
| unique | |
| values | |
| variety of learning tools | |
| walks life’s tightrope | |
| well rounded | 3 |
| well spoken | |
| willing to work hard | |
| word problems | |
| work to improve | |
| works well with others | |
| writer | 2 |
As a District, some years later, we are very focused on a honed 21st century vision for our learning organization. Along with these many descriptions of our aims, we are working together with students, families, and community to produce or develop a Portrait of the Graduate that is simple in description and complex in accomplishment.
| Rio 8th grade promoting graduates will be: | |
|
5
21 st Century Practices
|
Excellent and developing communicators |
| Excellent and developing collaborators | |
| Excellent and developing critical thinkers | |
| Creative problem solvers and makers | |
| Caring learners, citizens, and people | |
|
Literacies
|
Excellent and developing readers and writers |
| Excellent and developing mathematical thinkers | |
| Excellent and developing technology users |
This year we take the next step in improving our student and organizational outcomes along these lines. We invite community feedback along the way. If you have ideas about shaping Rio’s Portrait of a Graduate, please email Sonia Cervantez at scervantez@rioschools.org.
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