Lesson Design ＊ Byrdseed.TV

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.

An Introduction to Models of Instruction

For Teachers

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!

Help Students to Memorize Anything

For Teachers

How to memorize the countries in Africa, the Japanese writing system, or a deck of cards.

Creativity Beyond The Fluff

For Teachers

Just because a task is “creative” doesn’t mean students are at the top of Bloom’s Taxonomy.

Teaching Criticism

For Teachers

Ask students to go beyond “I don’t like it” and form critical opinions based on a set of criteria. Students can produce written arguments or turn their opinion into oral presentations.

Add Layers To Direct Instruction

For Teachers

Take direction instruction beyond a monotonous practice of the same skill over and over.

Writing Concept Attainment Lessons

For Teachers

In a Concept Attainment lesson, we give students examples and non-examples of a concept — without telling them what that concept is!

Engagement Isn’t The Goal

For Teachers

While “engagement” is fun, it shouldn’t be our main goal.

Context Clues and Classics

For Teachers

How to use a classic to revamp a study of context clues.

Depth and Complexity: Patterns and Quadrilaterals

For Teachers

Why just “identifying patterns” isn’t deep enough.

Explain Concepts with the Frayer Model

For Teachers

Giving a definition just doesn’t cut it! Use the Frayer Model to explain (and assess!) vocabulary.

Building “Not Like The Others” Tasks

For Teachers

A delightfully ambiguous framework that is quick to prepare, but can last forever!

From “Identify” to “Analyze” – Famous Structures

For Teachers

Rather than just learning about one structure, let’s climb Bloom’s and think more deeply.

Models of Instruction: Inquiry Training

For Teachers

Want your students to ask better questions? Why not train them to inquire!?

Complex Task: Academic Tournaments

For Teachers

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!

Response to Lit: An Inductive Approach

For Teachers

Here’s how one teacher uses inductive thinking to help students respond to literature.

Fancy Product? Simple Thinking – Wax Museum

For Teachers

A big, impressive product doesn’t mean that there was big, impressive thinking.

Beyond Identifying a Story’s Problem and Solution

For Teachers

So your students can identify a story’s problem and solution. Then what?

From Summary to Synthesis

For Teachers

Here’s how you can move from merely “summarizing a text” to a high-level task that culminates in synthesis.

Lesson Makeovers: 3 Big Ideas

For Teachers

After looking at dozens of lessons folks sent in, I came up with three big ideas to address.

Running A Group Investigation Lesson

For Teachers

Learn to lead a lesson that is built entirely on student curiosity.

Aim High, Scaffold Down in Math

For Teachers

A high level of thinking in math also requires the support of thoughtful scaffolding.

Complex Task: What Would X Think of Y?

For Teachers

Here’s a simple task that will add complexity to any content from any grade level!

Concept Formation

For Teachers

A model of instruction that moves from specific examples to concepts to one big idea.

Moving Students from “On-Level” to “Advanced” in Writing

For Teachers

What separates our on-level writers from our advanced writers?

Comparing Fraction Strategies

For Teachers

Comparing fraction strategies? Let’s take it even further!

Difficult vs Complex Tasks

For Teachers

What separates difficulty from complexity? And why do complex tasks lead to much more natural differentiation?

Comparing Strengths and Weaknesses

For Teachers

Go beyond merely explaining strengths and weaknesses and get students thinking in interesting ways.

Can Students Solve Your Classroom Layout Problems?

For Teachers

What if your students designed your classroom layout?

$What Makes A Math Puzzle Actually Puzzling?$

What Makes A Math Puzzle Actually Puzzling?

For Teachers

This math puzzle fell flat. Why? Because puzzling isn’t about difficulty — it’s about something else entirely.

Why “Analyze” Is My Favorite Level of Bloom’s Taxonomy

For Teachers

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!

Why I Don’t Use “Create” in Bloom’s Taxonomy

For Teachers

The word “Create” can mask low-level tasks. Here’s why I avoid using it in objectives.

An Inductive Exploration Of Geometry

For Teachers

With inductive thinking, students will work from parts to whole, discovering big ideas along the way!

Complex Task: Subjective Graphs

For Teachers

What would it be like if students graphed characters from stories? Historic leaders? Elements from the period table? Objects in space?

Inductively Analyze Website Reliability

For Teachers

Rather than giving students rules to apply to websites, let them analyze websites to create rules.