The Importance of Test Prep for Students The Role of Test Preparation in Academic Achievement Test preparation is essential for helping students perform at their best during assessments. Whether for state exams, standardized tests, or subject-specific assessments, test prep familiarizes students with the format, question types, and expectations. This reduces anxiety and boosts confidence. Reinforcing…
EDI AND HIGHER-ORDER QUESTIONING: BUILDING CRITICAL THINKERS Structuring Lessons with Thought-Provoking Questions As an educator focused on effective instruction, the transformative power of Explicit Direct Instruction (EDI) is evident in how it elevates classroom questioning from basic recall to deep critical thinking. This approach reshapes traditional questioning methods into a structured process that promotes deeper…
Checking for Understanding by Calling Non-Volunteers. When addressing the idea of selecting non-volunteers for the purpose of asking students questions, one needs to consider two things: 1) Do students know the answer? and 2) Are they ready to give the answer? Here’s why we should NOT call on students who raise their hands. Typically, teachers…
Read or Click Play to Listen to the Audio Blog Audio Blog Learn how checking for understanding during the lesson improves first-time teaching It is a quiet Thursday morning, and your class is ready to learn. You deliver one of your best lessons EVER on a very challenging subject. The students nod their…
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…
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…
After reading The Diary of Anne Frank, a student is asked, “Who is Anne Frank?” To answer the question, the student simply recalls the information he or she memorized from the reading. With the implementation of Common Core, students are expected to become critical thinkers instead of just recalling facts and ideas from text. In…
Checking for Understanding is crucial in determining whether students actually learn what is being taught. If you have a set of classroom iPads, Checking for Understanding can be done in a fun and engaging way. Here are four free apps DataWORKS has found to be effective for Checking for Understanding. If you’re looking for an…
Don’t forget to get your free TAPPLE poster for your class. Download DataWORKS lessons have built-in Checking for Understanding strategies. View Lesson Gallery Checking for Understanding is the best way to verify that students are learning while the teacher is teaching. DataWORKS developed TAPPLE as an easy way to remember the six research-based components of…
What is Checking for Understanding? Checking for Understanding (CFU) is the backbone of effective instruction. Checking for Understanding is the teacher continually verifying that students are learning what is being taught while it is being taught. CFU provides the teacher the opportunity to improve learning based on student responses throughout the teaching and learning process.…