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Lesson Design

How to plan better lessons using a variety of models of instruction.

Printable List

Writing Differentiated Lesson Objectives
Writing Differentiated Lesson Objectives
My early lessons didn’t even have objectives, let alone good objectives! Here’s how to build four-part, differentiated lesson objectives.
Response to Lit: An Inductive Approach
Response to Lit: An Inductive Approach
Here’s how one teacher uses inductive thinking to help students respond to literature.
An Inductive Exploration Of Geometry
An Inductive Exploration Of Geometry
With inductive thinking, students will work from parts to whole, discovering big ideas along the way!
Creativity Beyond The Fluff
Creativity Beyond The Fluff
Just because a task is “creative” doesn’t mean students are at the top of Bloom’s Taxonomy.
Why “Analyze” Is My Favorite Level of Bloom’s Taxonomy
Why “Analyze” Is My Favorite Level of Bloom’s Taxonomy
Analyze is like a gateway that connects the lower- and higher-levels of Bloom’s. But make sure you’re truly asking an Analyze-level question!
What Makes A Math Puzzle Actually Puzzling?
What Makes A Math Puzzle Actually Puzzling?
This math puzzle wasn’t so puzzling. What went wrong?

Lesson Makeovers

Context Clues and Classics
Context Clues and Classics
How to use a classic to revamp a study of context clues.
Lesson Makeovers: 3 Big Ideas
Lesson Makeovers: 3 Big Ideas
After looking at dozens of lessons folks sent in, I came up with three big ideas to address.
Engagement Isn’t The Goal
Engagement Isn’t The Goal
While “engagement” is fun, it shouldn’t be our main goal.
Beyond Identifying a Story’s Problem and Solution
Beyond Identifying a Story’s Problem and Solution
So your students can identify a story’s problem and solution. Then what?
Comparing Strengths and Weaknesses
Comparing Strengths and Weaknesses
Go beyond merely explaining strengths and weaknesses and get students thinking in interesting ways.
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Models of Instruction

An Introduction to Models of Instruction
An Introduction to Models of Instruction
As a new teacher, I only knew one model of instruction: Direct Instruction. I was like a chef who only knew how to deep fry!
Writing Concept Attainment Lessons
Writing Concept Attainment Lessons
In a Concept Attainment lesson, we give students examples and non-examples of a concept — without telling them what that concept is!
Models of Instruction: Inquiry Training
Models of Instruction: Inquiry Training
Want your students to ask better questions? Why not train them to inquire!?
Running A Group Investigation Lesson
Running A Group Investigation Lesson
Learn to lead a lesson that is built entirely on student curiosity.
Add Layers To Direct Instruction
Add Layers To Direct Instruction
Take direction instruction beyond a monotonous practice of the same skill over and over.
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Complex Tasks

Building “Not Like The Others” Tasks
Building “Not Like The Others” Tasks
A delightfully ambiguous framework that is quick to prepare, but can last forever!
Complex Task: Subjective Graphs
Complex Task: Subjective Graphs
What would it be like if students graphed characters from stories? Historic leaders? Elements from the period table? Objects in space?
Difficult vs Complex Tasks
Difficult vs Complex Tasks
What separates difficulty from complexity? And why do complex tasks lead to much more natural differentiation?
Complex Task: Academic Tournaments
Complex Task: Academic Tournaments
Who would win in the Tournament of Least Useful Geometric Shapes or Bravest Shakespearean Characters? Create an academic tournament and watch your students’ brains sweat!
Complex Task: What Would X Think of Y?
Complex Task: What Would X Think of Y?
Here’s a simple task that will add complexity to any content from any grade level!