Power Standards - What They Are And How To Use Them

Have you ever looked at all the standards you have to teach for your class and wondered how in the world you would cover them all by the end of the school year?

Starting the year, especially in a new grade or class, can be completely overwhelming. It takes a while to figure out the rhythm of a class - what students already know, what they tend to struggle with, how long to spend on each unit, etc.

If you aren’t careful, you can find yourself in the fourth quarter and realize you still have far too much to cover.

Identifying your Power Standards can prevent you from running out of time.

Power Standards, also known as essential standards or prioritized standards, are those standards that educators and administrators deem of the “highest priority”.

Why Use Power Standards?

Using Power Standards is a great way to determine the most important standards for your classroom.

It can be difficult for teachers to hone in on the things that matter most for our students to learn. Using Power Standards can make it easy for you to zero in on what you need to teach. 

Using Power Standards does not mean that you ignore all of the other standards given to you. It just means that you focus on the main standards and supplement them with the rest of the standards. 

The sheer amount of academic standards for our classes makes it nearly impossible to teach every single one to mastery level. Power Standards allow you to build units based on the most important information and skills for students’ growth, rather than bouncing all over during the school year or rushing through everything. 

A narrow focus is a more effective approach to teaching than a wide focus is (depth over breadth), which makes Power Standards a perfect move for your classroom.

My School Does Not Have Power Standards. What Do I Do?

If your school or district has not identified your essential standards, I suggest you buddy up with your co-teachers and discuss which ones are the most important for your grade level. 

When deciding which standards to elevate to Power Standards, be sure to consider which skills and knowledge your students need to have mastered by the end of the year because they either need them for or build on them in the next grade. 

Once you’ve established your Power Standards, share them with your administration and get their feedback.

How Do I Use Power Standards In My Classroom? 

I always liked to have my Power Standards in the front of my mind (or in front of my face 😃) when I was planning my units or lessons. This helped me stay focused on what I needed to address.

In short, Power Standards are the standards that you:

• Spend the majority of your classroom time teaching

• Assess your students on their mastery of them.

• Intervene and assist students if they need your help mastering 

Still Have Questions About Power Standards?

Are you curious about how Power Standards work in an academic setting? Ask away! I’d be happy to help you gain some context.