The teacher asked students to write a paragraph about video games. Adam wrote: Link is a clever guy who has to rescue Princess Zelda from the villain Ganon. Along the way, he learns to use the Triforce. Anthony wrote: To play the game, you have to be good at using a controller. With the right…
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How to learn better means giving students the skills to manage their own learning. We call these cognitive strategies. In previous blogs, we discussed chunking, rehearsal, and elaboration strategies. This time we will look at organization methods that you can use with your students. Organization strategies Where rehearsal and elaboration strategies focus on words,…
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We’re not giving up on you! Witnessing the moment that a light bulb goes on for a struggling student can be awe-inspiring. It’s even more rewarding when that student finds a renewed passion for learning and an excitement for a subject like math. That’s exactly what happened for the middle school and high school students…
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Math is Tough! When consulting with a high school in Southern California recently, I taught a lesson on graphing linear equations to Algebra I students. While I was teaching the lesson, I randomly selected non-volunteers to Check for Understanding, and through the student responses I found some very interesting math misconceptions! The lesson I am…
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Expanding Vocabulary Last time we discussed the Standards for Literacy Practice (SLPs) that are part of Common Core. These standards are recommended guidelines that subject area teachers (such as social studies/history, science, and technical subjects) should use to reinforce literacy in their classes. One of the main shifts in these literacy standards is the focus on…
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A surprising powerhouse In 2012 while working with Nazarbayev Intellectual Schools (NIS) Center of Excellence in Astana, Kazakhstan, as an educational consultant, I started to do reports and work on research, specifically, “Best Practices” methodologies. NIS wanted Kazakhstan to become a leader in education in Asia and the world. My colleagues and I started to…
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Giving students the skills to learn better, to take charge of their own learning, is critical to their development. That’s why cognitive strategies are so important. In a previous blog, we discussed chunking and rehearsal strategies. This time we will look at elaboration methods that you can use to help students understand and remember. Elaboration…
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Literacy: The Shifts Imagine this scenario: You are a 6th grade social studies teacher. Your principal visits your classroom and asks you how you are meeting the new literacy standards promoted by Common Core. Perhaps your jaw drops, and then you stumble out a few words about helping them read and write. “Well, check it…
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One of the most important things I have done in teaching was to give tips to the students that would help them learn better. These tips are called cognitive strategies. Now, in this post, I will discuss a wide range of “rehearsal” cognitive strategies that you can use in the classroom to help your students learn…
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Where did they go wrong? When consulting with a high school in Southern California recently, I taught a lesson on euphemisms and oxymorons in an English Language Arts classroom. While I was teaching the lesson, I saw some clear examples of why it is vitally important to continuously Check for Understanding and to provide effective…
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