Maximizing Instructional Time

PlPlaFocusing on the Middle

Purposes for Strategies Used in the Beginning of a Lesson

• Build background knowledge about the concept• Activate prior knowledge• Discuss/ Introduce unfamiliar vocabulary• Emphasize important concepts for the day• Grab their attention/Set the stage for learning• Generate questions/ make predictions • Set a purpose for reading, listening, or viewing

Theory: Primacy/Recency

The brain remembers what comes first and last – the

middle is fuzzy!

Primacy – Recency Activity

P M R

SharpSutureThreadSyringe

Haystack

EyePin

HurtInjection

PointThimble

PainButtonSewing

Remember: Chunking Text and Time

Research on the Brain and Attention Spans tells us that it is very important to chunk the text or the lesson.

• Grades K - 2 equals 5 – 7 minutes

• Grades 3 - 7 equals 8 – 15 minutes

• Grades 8 -12 equals 20 – 25 minutes

Purposes for Strategies used as a During Lesson Activity

• Engage with the textHot Rod, Say Something, Coding the Text, Turn and Talk

• Verify and formulate predictions

Anticipation Guides, Five Word Predictions

• Summarize text Hot Rod, Read Talk Write, Mega Listeners

• Self-monitor comprehensionJot chart, 3-2-1,Margin Notes

• Explore content Key words, Think-Pair-Share, Jig Saw, Quadrant Cards

• Integrate new information with prior knowledge

Insert, KWL

GIST

Using the article provided, create a summary of a the assigned passage using exactly 20 words

Be prepared to share your summary

Teaching is not the presentation of information by the teacher, but the engagement of the learner with the

information.

Engaging Teens in Their Own Learning

9

HOW WE LEARN

1%

10%

20%

30%

50%

70%

80%

95%

98%

Use art, drama, music, movement – Integrated curriculum with content

Teaching someone else

Having a personal experience – Making connections (hands on)

Discussion with others

Lecture with visuals

Using only visuals

Lecture

Reading Assignment

Fill out worksheet

Learning Pyramid

Can we help students learn hard information

if we make it fun for them to do?

Look at Your Lesson:

Using the Learning Pyramid, ask yourself the following questions about your last lesson…

• How many strategies were you able to use?• Were you able to connect various strategies to

achieve maximum results?• Did your lesson include any of the bottom

strategies in the pyramid where you get the most “bang for your buck”?