Note: This post is not complete. I decided to publish an incomplete draft and edit as time and energy permit. Feel free to make suggestions.
Some teachers love to "wing-it." They waltz into a classroom and spout off instructions - or maybe flip on a PowerPoint. To them - the dance makes them good. Others might argue that only the results matter and if everyone can reach a certain threshold on a test then the instruction was good.
The current data on public schools are evidence that learning is not consistent between classrooms and not always happening. Despite the waltz, some students do not learn.
Robert Heiny is describing learning at EduClassics. This is an important read for all teachers. The information can help a teacher not get in the way of learning. Borrowing from his work, teachers will be able to improve their own instruction.
How do you start?
You can start by asking yourself, what are the components to good instruction? You could use a search engine and find a full-spectrum of opinions. You could just read below and find a great way to improve instruction - I call it the CURED approach.
CURED: From Bad to Good Instruction
Close your eyes and imagine being in the classroom. What do you want to see happening?
Now start to write down your plan. Lesson planning is not a waste of time if you record your thoughts - from start to finish. You may use a piece of paper, the presenter notes in a PowerPoint slide, the notes section in a Flipchart, or a webpage. Writing it out allows you to own the instruction. It's yours now.
Clear
Is your written work clear.
Understandable
Will your students understand the instructions?
Routine
Are your sequences always the same so the students know the pattern?
Explicit
Never leave an instruction to chance.
Detailed
Has every detail been imagined and recorded?
Some teachers love to "wing-it." They waltz into a classroom and spout off instructions - or maybe flip on a PowerPoint. To them - the dance makes them good. Others might argue that only the results matter and if everyone can reach a certain threshold on a test then the instruction was good.
The current data on public schools are evidence that learning is not consistent between classrooms and not always happening. Despite the waltz, some students do not learn.
Robert Heiny is describing learning at EduClassics. This is an important read for all teachers. The information can help a teacher not get in the way of learning. Borrowing from his work, teachers will be able to improve their own instruction.
How do you start?
You can start by asking yourself, what are the components to good instruction? You could use a search engine and find a full-spectrum of opinions. You could just read below and find a great way to improve instruction - I call it the CURED approach.
CURED: From Bad to Good Instruction
Close your eyes and imagine being in the classroom. What do you want to see happening?
Now start to write down your plan. Lesson planning is not a waste of time if you record your thoughts - from start to finish. You may use a piece of paper, the presenter notes in a PowerPoint slide, the notes section in a Flipchart, or a webpage. Writing it out allows you to own the instruction. It's yours now.
Clear
Is your written work clear.
Understandable
Will your students understand the instructions?
Routine
Are your sequences always the same so the students know the pattern?
Explicit
Never leave an instruction to chance.
Detailed
Has every detail been imagined and recorded?