What students should know, understand, and be able to do Developing Your K-U-D What students should know, understand, and be able to do

Step 1: Look at the Standards or Anchors (reading, math, science) Analyze the standards to determine exactly what students should know, understand and be able to do as defined by the standards.

Why Start with the Standards? They provide clarity regarding what students must learn. They help to ensure that the learning expectations are consistent from classroom to classroom. With a clear understanding of what the standards require, we can make sure that our assessments are aligned. Having a clear understanding of the standards helps us make sure that our instructional activities will lead students to the desired learning.

Here’s an example from the Pennsylvania writing standards PA Academic Standards for Reading, Writing, Speaking, and Listening 1.4 Types of Writing 1.4.5 A Write multi-paragraph stories. 1.4.5 B Write multi-paragraph informational pieces 1.4.5 C Write persuasive pieces with a clearly stated position or opinion and supporting detail, citing sources when needed. 1.5. Quality of Writing 1.5.5 A. Write with a sharp, distinct focus identifying topic, task and audience. 1.5.5 B. Write using well-developed content appropriate for the topic. 1.5.5 C. Write with controlled and/or subtle organization. 1.5.5 DWrite with an understanding of the stylistic aspects of composition. 1.5.5 E. Revise writing to improve organization and word choice; check the logic, order of ideas and precision of vocabulary. 1.5.5 F. Edit writing using the conventions of language.

Step 2: Determine the Know Know involves facts, formulas, and vocabulary. It is the information students should be able to recall after the unit is over. The Know is written in phrases

Let’s look at the “know” with our example from the writing standards A strategy for organizing narrative, informational, and persuasive writing Strategies for writing effective leads and conclusions Words for creating effective transitions between sentences and paragraphs

Step 3: Determine the Understand Understand involves the big ideas that we want students to gain during the unit. Understand is written as ideas or complete thoughts in sentence form. To determine the understand ask yourself, “Why is this important to learn about? Are there underlying beliefs and values here that are important?”

Here’s the “understand” with our example from the writing standards When writing to tell about a personal experience, share information, or convince someone of something, there is a predicable structure that a writer can follow.

Step 3: Determine the Do The do column involves skills – math, thinking strategies, writing etc. The Do starts with a verb. This tells something the students will do, an action.

Let’s look at the “do” with our example from the writing standards Write a five-paragraph narrative essay about a personal experience Write a five-paragraph informational essay Compare and contrast informational and narrative writing Write a five-paragraph persuasive essay in response to a written prompt Construct support for a point of view different from one’s own

A final K-U-D might look something like this:

Putting it All Together Notice the Knows: They are words or phrase Notice the Dos: They start with a verb Notice the understand: It tells why the students are learning this

Here’s another example from health on the digestive System PA Academic Standards for Health, Safety, and Physical Education 10.1 Concepts of Health 10.1.3 B Identify and know the location and function of the major body organs and systems 10.1.6 C Analyze nutritional concepts that impact health 10.1.9 B Analyze the interdependence existing among body systems Know, Understand, Do Know The nutrients our bodies need for good health Foods that supply nutrients Organs of the digestive system Function of each organ of the digestive system Understand The digestive system extracts from food the nutrients that our bodies require to grow and function in good health The digestive system works in conjunction with other body systems to supply nutrients to our body cells. Do Classify food according to the nutrients they supply Identify and label the organs of the digestive system Explain the function of each organ during the process of digestion Sequence the process of digestion Explain how the digestive system is interdependent with other systems.

Remember… The three columns are independent – you do not write an understand and do for each know. You may write the K - U -D in any order that works for you. You may also find that you move back and forth among the columns as you construct your K-U-D.