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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
In my many years teaching in the classroom, I always felt that one of the most important things I did was to give tips to the students that would help them learn better. They really appreciated it, and they often had ahas! when they realized there was an easier way to study, memorize, etc. I…
“Time is more valuable than money. You can get more money but you can never get more time.” This popular quotation strikes a chord with most teachers. The school bell rings every 45 to 50 minutes. It keeps our day, our students, and our work always on the move. Thus, the most common conversation in…
The Well-Crafted, Well-Taught Lesson gets even better! What’s new? Explicit Direct Instruction: The Power of the Well-Crafted, Well-Taught Lesson was published in 2009, and since then authors John Hollingsworth and Dr. Silvia Ybarra have forged a path through the Common Core State Standards, visited hundreds more classrooms, and fine-tuned their EDI strategies. Now they are…
Accelerate Students by Pre-teaching Next Year’s Standards! Now is the time to reserve your preferred dates! For Students: Preparation for next year All materials provided Highly interactive engagement during lessons Students gain confidence For Teachers: Academy training provided Frequent interactive coaching and debriefing during Academy READY TO TEACH (EDI) Lessons provided Academy training transferable to…