Effective Instructional StrategiesEssential Instructional Strategies for Administrators Ed.D; Acacia UniversityFall 2015ByAya Shalaby

Graphic Organizers

Graphic Organizers are images of knowledge. They mirror the way the

human brain functions and help students make learning connections. There are four main groups of GOs; conceptual, sequential, hierarchical, and cyclical. Graphic organizers are very effective

strategies as they help learners organize knowledge, clarify thinking, increase

creativity, and share information.

Word Walls

Word walls are a display of words that offer more than the chance to recognize words as they help students build understanding and link ideas to each other. Word walls

have three major types. Content overview is one that can be used at the beginning of a unit or chapter to have an overview

of what will be learned in it. Content specific word wall is one that is focused on a certain topic that is being learned.

Word Walls Continued

The third one is the study language one that helps with certain areas while studying language. Word wall is an

effective strategy as it helps students learn and reinforce content

vocabulary, develop spelling, use skills, expand vocabulary, and connect

ideas.

Partnering

Partnering is when two people share, listen, think, plan, and report together.

It is a way to build collaboration. Partnering can be used in many

different ways and has many types:Share and discuss, brainstorming, compare and contrast, classifying, problem solving, reflecting, and

question and predict.

Benefits of Partnering

Enhances listening skills between students and each other

Avoids class-discussions where mostly teachers ask and one student answers

An active strategy that allows students to practice their oral skills

Students learn better from each other Fosters the development of an active

learning community Energizes the classroom

Rubrics & Editing

Rubrics are a set of criteria that define the quality level of any activity, task or

product. They make the expectations of any task transparent, define quality, set

the focus, provide a framework for feedback, and work well in groupings.

There are two types of rubrics. A holistic rubric that evaluates an entire product as

a whole. And the analytic rubric is one that helps by evaluating a product for different

traits.

Note-taking

Note-taking is a power strategy that allows individuals organize, record

and remember certain ideas/concepts. These ideas could be heard, seen or

read. This helps them construct meaning and understanding. Note-

taking is important because its consistency allows concepts to written, revised, reviewed and

remembered by students. It could be conducted while reading something,

hearing something or seeing something (presentation).

Methods used with Note-taking Outlines Charts Cornell Method Paraphrasing Think in Threes SQ3R The Sentence Method

Reflection

It is the practice of going back to prior learning engagements and think about

them. Reflection is considered the bridge between the learning

engagements and learning. It allows learners to revisit their learning

engagements, attend to how they feel about it and evaluate it.

Reflection Continued

If we describe learning in an equation it will look like this:

Action + Reflection= Learning

Reflection is an amazing strategy that allows individuals to look back at any taken

action or learning experience, think about it, evaluate its level, and build upon it for

improvement and growth.

Summary Is a shortened version of a longer text or work

or event Contains the main points or facts within a

work or from an event Contains essential information and eliminates

the descriptions and details used in the original

Reflects the essence of the original piece as accurately as possible

Reflects the original author’s purpose/s or intent/s

Is stated in author’s own words Clear and self-contained, allowing the reader

to understand the essence of the original quickly

Demonstrates understanding of the original work or event

Combining Strategies

To meet various learning needs To expose students to different

experiences To ensure an active and creative

learning environment To deepen understanding and higher

order thinking To meet different learning styles

References

Marzano R., Pickering D., Pollock J. (2001). Classroom Instructions

that Works.