C.I.A.

LKSD Best Practice #7

Planned lessons result in challenging, interactive and authentic instruction.

Characteristics of lessons that are challenging, interactive and authentic:

Fun/ active communication and learning
Cooperative learning; group activities (pairs)
Hands-on activities
Students make their own discoveries
All responses are accepted and valued
There is an element of group competition/ teamwork
Students engage in reflective journals
The environment facilitates students building self-confidence and self-esteem
Teacher acts as a facilitator of knowledge and language
There is an integrated/ cross-discipline approach to academics (math, language arts, writing)
Teacher avoids using non-curriculum worksheets
Problem solving tasks are incorporated into the lesson

Stations/ Rotations

Stations (rotations) are an incredible teaching strategy used to chunk information and actively engage students with the lesson content. When exploring stations, students have the opportunity to move at their own pace, or the teacher can set a timer for further structure.

Students working together

When students are given the opportunity to collaborate, their higher order thinking skills are enhanced as well as their ability to orally communicate with others. Working with a partner promotes active listening and critical thinking as well as enhances students' self- esteem.

Hands-on & Authentic Instruction

Students in this high school math class are working together to apply their math content knowledge by building a prototype.

Kinesthetic Learning

The human body is not designed to sit still for 8 hours a day; students of all ages need opportunity for physical movement. Physically interacting with content engages the brain on a deeper level which leads to deeper understanding and retention.

Lesson is challenging, interactive and authentic

These high school students are taking soil samples to measure for water composition during their science class.

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