Selecting Powerful Instructional Strategies Professional Learning Facilitators Guide

Selecting Powerful Instructional Strategies Professional Learning Facilitator’s Guide Module Two: Preparing for responsive and differentiated instruction and assessment

Session goals Ø Understand the different categories and types of instructional strategies. Ø Thoughtfully consider the criteria that could be used to guide the selection of instructional strategies. Ø Select powerful instructional strategies to effectively differentiate a lesson. www. tc 2. ca

Launching the learning • What do you notice in the photo(s)? • What is the purpose of the accommodation featured in the image? • Who else might benefit from the accommodation? www. tc 2. ca

Session overview Critical inquiry question How might I design and lead instruction to support student success? Challenge Recommend powerful instructional strategies that could be used to support student success. By the end of this session, educators will… www. tc 2. ca

Launching the Learning Think of three instructional strategies from your grades and subjects that effectively support the success of learners. www. tc 2. ca

Examine powerful instructional strategies Key point Instructional strategies are the techniques teachers use to help students become independent and self-regulating learners. These strategies can become thinking strategies when students independently select and use appropriate strategies and use them effectively. Instructional strategies can: Ø Ø Ø motivate students and help them focus attention guide and encourage student interaction and participation help students organize information help students think through, understand, and use information monitor and assess learning www. tc 2. ca

Introducing a Thoughtbook Which instructional strategies might be the most powerful when differentiating instruction for your students? Key point Thoughtbooks are an adaptation of the devices long used by great thinkers to record and iterate their thinking. Thoughtbooks are used by learners to sustain critical and creative thinking about a question or task. www. tc 2. ca

Examine powerful instructional strategies In which categories do your instructional strategies belong? • Setting objectives • Surfacing prior knowledge • Encouraging interaction and participation • Gathering and organizing information • Developing and consolidating understanding • Providing guidance www. tc 2. ca

Examine powerful instructional strategies What other examples of instructional strategies in each category can we think of? www. tc 2. ca

Examine powerful instructional strategies Which attributes or factors might have the greatest influence on determining which instructional strategies are used? A powerful instructional strategy: Ø Supports learning goals: The instructional strategy complements the learning goals and the content and competency objectives of the lesson plan. This includes ensuring that instructional strategies maximize students’ interaction with and understanding of content. Ø Maximizes student strengths: The instructional strategy leverages or maximizes students’ learning preferences and strengths (e. g. , contexts, interests, readiness, and learning preferences). www. tc 2. ca

Examine powerful instructional strategies Which attributes or factors might have the greatest influence on determining which instructional strategies are used? A powerful instructional strategy (cont’d): Ø Supports student needs: The instructional strategy addresses and supports students’ learning needs and goals. Ø Provides new information: The instructional strategy helps reveal new information about students that could be used to inform instruction or assessment. www. tc 2. ca

Consider the students What instructional strategies might the teacher use to enhance student learning? • Suggest at least three powerful instructional strategies that the teacher might use to enhance student learning in the scenario. • Remember to consider the different types of instructional strategies and the criteria when making your decisions. www. tc 2. ca

Return to your Thoughtbook and your initial ideas about which instructional strategies might be the most powerful when differentiating instruction for their students. • Which ideas would you keep? • Which ideas might you change? • Which ideas might you add? www. tc 2. ca

Consider the students www. tc 2. ca

Consider the students What aspects of your selected or assigned lesson might present challenges or obstacles for your assigned student? • Identify at least three powerful instructional strategies that could be used to support your student in the selected lesson. • Consider the different types of instructional strategies and the criteria when making your suggestions. www. tc 2. ca

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Return to your Thoughtbook and your initial ideas about which instructional strategies might be the most powerful when differentiating instruction for their students. • Which ideas would you keep? • Which ideas might you change? • Which ideas might you add? www. tc 2. ca

Integrate the learning How might the categories of instructional strategies and criteria guide the selection of powerful instructional strategies for your own teaching materials and students? Reflect and discuss this with a partner. www. tc 2. ca

Revisit the inquiry question and challenge Overarching question: How might I most effectively prepare for inclusive teaching and learning? Overarching challenge: Suggest four practical and powerful refinements to effectively differentiate a lesson or series of lessons of your choice. Session critical inquiry question How might I design and lead instruction to support student success? Session challenge Recommend powerful instructional strategies that could be used to support student success. By the end of this session, educators will… www. tc 2. ca

For more information and support: www. tc 2. ca