How to plan better lessons using a variety of models of instruction.
With inductive thinking, students will work from parts to whole, discovering big ideas along the way!
Who would win in the Tournament of Most Honorable Presidents or Least Useful Geometric Shapes or Bravest Shakespearean Characters? Create an academic tournament and watch your students' brains sweat!
What separates difficulty from complexity? And why do complex tasks lead to much more natural differentiation?
Part 2 of Models of Instruction
In a Concept Attainment lesson, we give students examples and non-examples of a concept -- without telling them what that concept is!
Part 4 of Models of Instruction
Learn to lead a lesson that is built entirely on student curiosity.
A delightfully ambiguous framework that is quick to prepare, but can last forever!
What would it be like if students graphed characters from stories? Historic leaders? Elements from the period table? Objects in space?
Here's a simple task that will add complexity to any content from any grade level!
Just because a task is "creative" doesn't mean students are at the top of Bloom's Taxonomy.
Rather than just learning about one structure, let's climb Bloom's and think more deeply.
After looking at dozens of lessons folks sent in, I came up with three big ideas to address.
Part 3 of Models of Instruction
Want your students to ask better questions? Why not train them to inquire!?
Comparing fraction strategies? Let's take it even further!
Why just "identifying patterns" isn't deep enough.
While "engagement" is fun, it shouldn't be our main goal.
A high level of thinking also requires the support of thoughtful scaffolding.
Why I don't use the word "Create" when writing objectives.
So your students can identify a story's problem and solution. Then what?
How to use a classic to revamp a study of context clues.
Go beyond merely explaining strengths and weaknesses and get students thinking in interesting ways.
A big, impressive product doesn't mean that there was big, impressive thinking.