Instructional Strategies Assignment
Fall 2005

Instructional strategies are research-based tools that guide teachers in maximizing student achievement. Teachers make a variety of decisions to promote learning.  They decide on the curriculum, learning goals and objectives, and teaching methods.  Within teaching methods, they decide on which instructional strategies they will use.  One of the qualities of effective teachers is the knowledge and effective use of a wide variety of strategies. In this assignment, you will pick at least one instructional strategies to incorporate into a lesson in your content area that you will present to the class on Oct. 4th.

Guiding Questions

    1. What instructional strategies are appropriate for teachers to use?
    2. Are instructional strategies subject specific?
    3. How do you consider learning goals and objectives when choosing instructional strategies?
    4. What values inspire different instructional strategies?

Suggestions for effective instructional strategies:

experiential learning - field trips, experiments, storytelling, role-playing, etc.
mneumonics
independent study - essays, journals, learning contracts, research projects, etc.
interactive instruction - brainstorming, jigsaw, role playing, debates, etc.
Instruction Skills - levels of questioning, wait time, demonstrating, explaining
graphic organizers
direct instruction -lecture, drill & practice, demonstrations
indirect instruction - case studies, concept mapping, cloze procedure, reflective discussion

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Teachers must consider a series of factors in determining when to use a specific strategy .  These factors include:

  1. learning goals and objectives

  2. subject area

  3. grade level

  4. students' backgrounds, special student considerations

  5. students' aptitudes

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Resources for instructional strategies:

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To complete this activity and become familiar with a specific strategy complete the following activities.

  1. Visit the NCDPI website and decide upon the standard(s) you wish to meet in your lesson.

  2. Choose information or a skill to teach with your selected strategy.

  3. Select a strategy.

  4. Find a description of the strategy in the literature.  Read through the phases of the strategy and suggested applications.

  5. Plan your instruction using the model's phases. Write a lesson plan detailing the subject area, objectives, and strategy.

  6. Reflect on your decisions.

  7. Prepare for your presentation of the lesson on Oct. 4

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Standards
C.2.2   Teachers use a variety of methods to teach students.
C.2.6   Teachers plan instruction that is appropriate for the students they teach.
C.5.1   Teachers analyze the results of teaching.
D.1.2   Teachers use multiple strategies to address the needs of individual learners.
D.2.3   Teachers modify instruction and assessment to meet the needs of individual standards.

Instructional Strategy Rubric

Does Not Meet Standard - D,F Meets Standard - B,C Goal - A Your Score
Targeted Instructional Strategy
No instructional strategy is mentioned. 
Lesson includes some use of the stated instructional strategy. 
Lesson clearly and appropriately uses the instructional strategy. 
Activities
Activities are unrelated to objectives. Many activities are extraneous and irrelevant.  
Activities relate to objectives. A few activities may be extraneous or irrelevant.  
Activities provide a logical path to meeting objectives. No activities are extraneous or irrelevant. Students of many learning styles and strengths can benefit from activities. 
Resources
Many resources needed for lesson are not included in plan. 
Resources needed for this lesson are included in plan. 
Resources needed for this lesson are included in plan, and notes about assembling materials, contacting outside guests, or locating additional resources are included, as well. 
Objectives
Objectives are missing, unclear, or are unrelated to standards. 
Objectives provide some sense of what students will know and be able to do as a result of the lesson. Most of the objectives are related to standards. 
Objectives provide a clear sense of what students will know and be able to do as a result of the lesson. All objectives are clearly and closely related to standards. 
Mechanics
Spelling and grammar are unacceptable. 
The lesson plan contains few spelling and grammar errors. 
Spelling and grammar in lesson plan are flawless. 
Grade Level Appropriateness
Objectives and activities are inappropriate for the intended grade level. 
Most objectives and activities are appropriate for the intended grade level. 
All objectives and activities are appropriate for the intended grade level.