Always Be Teaching Grade-Level Content & Standards
Even if you have to insert a review of prerequisite concepts or skills as part of your mini-lesson, be sure that what you are teaching and the level of rigor your students are grappling, aligns with the expectations of your grade level standards.
This is crucial because, in many states—regardless of our personal views—the end-of-year assessment significantly impact our students; influencing everything from class placements to graduation eligibility.
Focusing on grade-level content doesn’t mean we skip providing necessary support or sacrifice the fun in learning, it means we are vehemently opposed to setting our students up for widening gaps.
But, How? You might be asking yourself
You might be wondering how to teach grade level content to students who are missing fundamental skills. But first let me say this: The reality is, your students will never reach grade level proficiency if they aren’t given the chance to engage with grade-level material.
Strategies for Effective Instruction
Here’s how I guide teachers:
Provide Just-In-Time Support
SuperTeacher, you know your students best and you are always collecting data to inform your instructional moves. So, based on your understanding of your students strengths and struggles, plan a mini-lesson (5-7 minutes) that equips students with what they need to access the lesson.
Then, after introducing the lesson, step back and assess:
Who is getting right to work?
Who looks like they might need additional support?
Who do you KNOW will need extra help?
Allow students about 3-5 minutes to begin working independently (encouraged peer collaboration), and then start circulating.
Facilitate Independent Learning
Begin with students who are working effectively on their own. Observe their work to gather insights that could help other students.
Next, decide how to assist those who might be struggling.
Here are a few options:
Form small groups to discuss sticking points.
Pause the class and facilitate a student-centered discussion where a few students share their progress or questions.
Pull a small group together to provide targeted support, using tools like graphic organizers or sentence starters to help them articulate their thoughts and strategies.
Release and Trust the Process
Be mindful of the time spent with any group. Implement a "stick and move" approach—briefly engage, then allow students to work independently. This strategy helps students rely more on themselves and each other, fostering independence and peer collaboration.
Remember Learning isn't Linear
Trust in your planning and readiness to support students where they are likely to struggle.
Trust your students' capacity to work through challenges.
Trust the non-linear nature of learning.
ProTip: Be sure to “Stamp” the big ideas of the lesson as part of the lesson synthesis/consolidation to reinforce the connection between activities and the learning objective(s). You want to make sure students are not leaving class unnecessarily confused. I am not a fan of classroom cliff-hangers.
Just in-time Extensions for High Achievers
Always be ready to provide your high achievers with extensions: none of that, “go back and check your work,” or “excellent, go help so and so” or “perfect, you’ve earned yourself some free time” [yup, I’ve done them all… my bad students].
SuperTeachers, if you KNOW your students “get it” get them moving on to a more advanced application of the concepts and skills; within their zone of proximal development, of course.
Think Bloom's taxonomy (or the HESS Rigor Matrix if you prefer): How can your students use what they understand to create something new or evaluate an existing piece of work?
Closing Thoughts
Implementing these strategies may require a shift in your belief in your ability to plan effectively, as well as a shift in your belief in your students capacity to grapple with grade level content. Belief is a muscle you have work. Keep working it!
You’ve got this. You know your students best. You always do the work before assigning it. And you are prepared to provide just-in-time and the just-right supports so ALL of your students are successful.
Give it a try, SuperTeachers, and share your experience in the comments.
But, before you go; please like, share, and comment on this post.
Thank you for engaging with this episode of "Always Be."
Dr. O
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