Favorite Instructional Strategies
Pre-Assessment
- KWL
- Entrance/Exit
- Bell work
- Anticipation Guide
- Texting in answers
- Interest inventory
– Brainstorming
During/Formative
- Plus, Minus, Interesting
- Thumbs up/down/side
- Fist of five
- Yes/No cards
- Making connections
- Determining importance
- Think-pair-share
- Inside-Outside Circles
- Peer-teaching
- TAPS
- Jigsaw
- Carousel
- Centers
- Multiple intelligences – learned more from what?
- Metacognition questions (why did I do this/what did I learn/how can I improve)
- Examples of ideal
- Work sheets
- Drawing for comprehension
- Graphic organizers
- Venn diagrams
- circles
- Narrative
- Role play
- Talking circle
- Lectures with objectives, sheets to follow along, activities after, summary at end
– Inquiry assignment or student-interest assignment
Post/Summative
- Reflections
- Self-assessments
- Rubrics
- Portfolios
- Interviews
– Essays
Behavior/Routine
- Marble jar
- Proximity
- Praise students who do it well
- Give me five = be quiet
- Continue when silent
– Contracts (given before for clear expectations)
Questioning:
- Popsicle sticks
- Cold call
– Blend of popsicle sticks with cold call
Favorite Classroom Arrangement
Image one: Horseshoe
Image Two: Teacher/Student Work Space
Favorite Unit and Reflection Plans
See kgorhamblog: Unit Template and Professional Development Worksheets
My Favorite Unit Plan
See kgorhamblog: Health 3/4 Unit Plan: Healthy Eating, Exercise, and the Immune System