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Leaders of Their Own Learning

Transforming Schools Through Student-Engaged Assessment

Put the powerful tools of measuring progress back in the hands of students. Leaders of Their Own Learning offers a new way of thinking about assessment. Student-engaged assessment involves students in understanding and investing in their own growth, changing the primary role of assessment from evaluating and ranking students to motivating them to learn. Student-engaged assessment ignites the capacity of students to take responsibility for their own learning, building the independence, critical thinking skills, perseverance, and self-reflective understanding they need to succeed in college, careers, and life.

The eight key practices described in Leaders of Their Own Learning engage students in making academic progress, improve achievement, and involve families and communities in the life of the school. The book, which includes 27 videos, is full of powerful strategies to help students own their learning.

Key features of Leaders of Their Own Learning include:

  • Twenty-seven accompanying videos of student-engaged assessment in action
  • A Leaders of Their Own Learning PD Pack that supports self-study of the book
  • A foreword by Colorado legislator and gubernatorial candidate, Mike Johnston
  • Guidance on how to get started with each practice and strategies for more advanced implementation
  • Advice for leaders on schoolwide implementation of each practice
  • A synthesis of what to expect and the common challenges related to each practice

Table of Contents

Leaders of Their Own Learning describes EL Education's approach to student-engaged assessment.

Chapter 1: Learning Targets

Chapter 2: Checking for Understanding

Chapter 3: Using Data with Students

Chapter 4: Models, Critique, and Descriptive Feedback

Chapter 5: Student-Led Conferences

Chapter 6: Celebrations of Learning

Chapter 7: Passage Presentations with Portfolios

Chapter 8: Standards-Based Grading

Chapter 1: Learning Targets

Chapter 2: Checking for Understanding

Chapter 3: Using Data with Students

Chapter 4: Models, Critique, and Descriptive Feedback

Chapter 5: Student-Led Conferences

Chapter 6: Celebrations of Learning

Chapter 7: Passage Presentations with Portfolios

Chapter 8: Standards-Based Grading

"A visionary argument for how we can invert the school reform pyramid and put students in charge of their own learning."

Jal Mehta , Associate Professor of Education, Harvard Graduate School of Education

Make the Most of Leaders of Their Own Learning

Browse the entire collection of Leaders of Their Own Learning videos.

Explore the Leaders of Their Own Learning PD Pack, which supports self-study of the book. 

EL Education also offers professional development related to Leaders of Their Own Learning. For more information about existing opportunities, or to make inquiries about bringing professional development to your area, email us at pd@eleducation.org.

Click here to buy the book. 


Leaders of Their Own Learning Promotional Video

Suggested Use

Schoolwide book study, tool for professional coaching, an anchor text for professional learning communities

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Created By

EL Education

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  • Author

    Ron Berger, Leah Rugen, Libby Woodfin

  • Type

    Books