Independent Living Program - Florida's Center for Child Welfare

A good method for developing mastery standards for groups is to let youth walk around a room with questions posted on newsprint,write their answers, and then discuss them. Or, an individual can record answers to these questions for themselves. Example questionsinclude:1. What do you want to achieve, get, acquire? By when?2. What do you need to learn in order to achieve what you want?3. What is important to you about achieving the things you listed?4. What will it do for you to learn and achieve these goals?5. How will you know you are on your way to achieving what you want?6. How will you know you are learning what you need to learn?7. How will others know you are learning and achieving?8. What has stopped you from learning and achieving these goals in the past?9. What do you have going in your life, (friends, mentors, programs, intelligence) that can help you get past what has stoppedyou?10. Who do you need to ask for help in achieving what you want?11. What are the first three steps you need to take?These questions, or ones you develop, can be used in journaling assignments, interviews, and portfolio development. It is important,that questions help the learner move from the present to the future. While important to recognize the past, avoid detailed or lengthyanalysis of past failures.A very important side-effect of development and achievement of mastery standards is a healthy, accurate self-concept. When learnersare successful in repeating a skill/competency, they believe they not only can do it, but that they are good at it. Mastery StandardsLife Skills Guidebook 159©2004 by Casey Family Programs.