Our Instructional Model for the Trimester
Defining Rigorous Instruction
Rigor: using inquiry-based, collaborative strategies to challenge and engage students in content, resulting in complex levels of understanding.
- Striking a balance between covering content with students and allowing them to uncover their learning and understanding
Teaching for Engagement and Learning
- Design instruction around essential questions that capture a lesson’s intent: what do students need to do and experience to answer the questions?
- Plan at least 2-3 distinct transitions within each lesson. (ex: integrating writing, inquiry, peer reflection, collaboration, organization, and/or reading)
- Embed purposeful movement
- Replace traditional lectures with mini-lessons. Think 10-2-2 (for every 10 minutes of content, give two minutes of peer collaboration and two minutes of written processing).
- Work involves direct experience by the student rather than a textbook study or filling in the blank on a worksheet.
- Provide ample opportunities for students to summarize and reflect upon their learning in class, with essential questions/learning targets as the guiding tool.
- Most practice (homework) should take place in the classroom so you can assess and provide feedback on their strengths and weaknesses.
|
|
|