Only a few miles from Knott’s Berry Farm in Orange County, California, Raymond Temple Elementary School is helping children from prekindergarten through grade six experience the joy of learning rigorous academic skills. Whether students begin the year performing below, at, or above grade-level expectations, educators at Raymond Temple work together to ensure that all students experience substantial growth toward ambitious academic goals.

Students from all backgrounds (whether their families meet low-income criteria, they are emerging as multi-lingual learners, they qualify as deaf or hard-of-hearing, or have other learning strengths or needs) learn they can set and achieve challenging learning goals with the support provided by Temple Elementary educators. To help students focus on learning goals, teachers clearly communicate what students are expected to learn and understand as a result of each lesson. Students learn how to track and chart their progress toward their learning goals. Individual progress and classroom progress toward academic goals and behavioral goals is frequently acknowledged and celebrated. Weekly professional learning community meetings provide teachers the opportunity to support each other in planning, implementing, and refining lessons in ways that enhance student progress toward learning goals.