Identifying Essential Standards

Agenda

Time	Focus
0–5 min	Review the selected unit/course focus.
5–15 min	Discuss the difference between “what we teach” and “what students must learn.”
15–35 min	Use criteria to identify one essential standard for the learning cycle.
35–43 min	Confirm the selected essential standard.
43–45 min	Assign pre-work: bring student work samples, curriculum resources, and assessment examples connected to the standard.

Why This Meeting Matters

This is where teams begin shifting from coverage to guaranteed learning. Choosing one essential standard keeps the work manageable.