Indicators of Positive Instructional Practices

by: Bill Austin, M.Ed, NBCT

     Research has indicated that the presence of certain instructional practices within a classroom can positively impact learning and raise student achievement. While in past years we have focused on “programs” to increase student achievement we need to move toward more of a focus on “best practices” to continue to improve student scores.  Classroom environment is a very important part of our instructional program.  Have a look at some of the areas below and see if your classroom is student friendly.

• Are desks arranged in cooperative groups? Do these groupings change frequently depending on what is being taught? Differentiated grouping has shown great promise in recent years.
• Is your classroom literature rich? Regardless of what you are teaching your room should be full of books, magazines, and newspapers. Books should be both fiction and non-fiction.
• Are routines and procedures established for your classroom? Have students rehearsed these procedures and routines?
• Do students understand the concept of “Big Ideas” and “Essential Questions?” Learning is more effective when students understand why they are learning.
• Are you effectively differentiating your instruction? Differentiation doesn’t mean simply how you teach. Differentiation can be accomplished within lesson objectives, instruction, assignments, and assessment.
• Do you facilitate learning or do you lecture?  Allowing students to discover knowledge helps build schema and sets the stage for more learning.
• Do you know your students? Likes, dislikes, hobbies, home life etc.
• Do your students know you? Your likes, dislikes, hobbies, etc.
• Direct instruction has been shown to be most effective for student achievement if conducted correctly. Are you making sure students know what they are learning and why? Do you include an anticipatory set? Do you probe to determine current level of knowledge and understanding? Is your instruction differentiated in one or more of three areas above? Are you using formative assessments and redirecting instruction as you teach? Have you used “Backward by Design” approaches to your summative assessments? Are your expectations high?
• Are your biggest worries instructional? If they are behavioral, classroom management may be a factor.
• Are the students in your class excited to be there? Are students laughing and enjoying your instruction? Are students free to discuss subjects?
• Have you looked at the Data on your current students? Are you addressing their weak areas? Do the students know their weak areas?
• Do you model the behaviors you expect from your students?

While these best practices are not the answer to every situation or student in a school they are a great first step in making sure your classroom is a positive force in your student’s lives.