National Center for Urban School Transformation

http://www.ncust.org

Strengthening Instruction in Urban Schools

National Center for Urban School TransformationSan Diego State University

2011

National Center for Urban School Transformation

Dedicated to identifying, studying, and promoting the best practices of America’s highest achieving urban schools in a manner that supports urban districts in

transforming teaching and learning

http://www.ncust.org

Learn more at the Annual Symposium on High-Performing Urban Schools in San Diego, CA – May, 2012

In high-performing schools, instruction is focused upon generating student mastery

Instruction in High-Performing Schools:Focusing on Mastery

In excellent lessons, educators: Create clarity and specificity about what students

are expected to learn Minimize transitions, wait time, and time off task Focus persistently on the objective to be mastered Focus on generating substantial depth of

understanding (higher-order thinking) Strive to get every student to demonstrate mastery

of the objective

Instruction in High-Performing Schools:Acquiring Evidence of Understanding

In excellent lessons, educators: Do not “chicken feed” (simply toss out information

and hope students digest it) Engage all students in demonstrating their levels of

understanding throughout the lesson Attend carefully to evidence of student

understanding throughout the lesson Adapt instruction when student mastery is not

evidenced Conclude by checking student understanding

Instruction in High-Performing Schools:Presenting Information

In excellent lessons, educators: Know the content they intend to teach Present key concepts in an organized manner,

based on a logical task analysis Teach strategies so students can acquire

information on their own Keep presentations of information brief Wait to present a second concept until students

demonstrate that they understand the first concept

Instruction in High-Performing Schools:Connecting with Students

In excellent lessons, educators: Present key concepts in ways that build upon

students’ background, culture, and interests Present key concepts in ways that build upon

students’ prior knowledge Recognize when students are not understanding

and find other ways to explain concepts when necessary

Scaffold down and enrich upward based on levels of student understanding

Instruction in High-Performing Schools:Building Critical Vocabulary

In excellent lessons, educators: Pre-identify key vocabulary that influences

understanding of the lesson content Provide multiple opportunities for all students to

practice using key lesson vocabulary in their own spoken language

Instruction in High-Performing Schools:Promoting Successful Practice

In excellent lessons, educators: Allow students to practice independently only when

there is substantial evidence that independent practice will be meaningful and successful

Monitor independent practice (and/or give students ways to monitor their own practice) and intervene when necessary

Instruction in High-Performing Schools:Making Students Feel Valued

In excellent lessons, educators: Maintain a clean, attractive classroom Express a genuine interest in each student’s ideas Demonstrate courtesy and respect in all interactions Provide specific, meaningful praise in response to

student effort Post high-quality student work frequently Give students the tools needed to evaluate the

quality of their work (rubrics) Provide visual aids that can help students succeed

Instruction in High-Performing Schools:Leading Students to Love Learning

In excellent lessons, educators: Help students understand the importance of the

content to be learned Demonstrate enthusiasm for the content Provide opportunities for students to use technology

and/or manipulate objects in ways that reinforce lesson objectives

Integrate material from other disciplines in teaching lesson objectives

Provide students leadership opportunities Encourage student-to-student interaction

How Do High-Performing Schools Build and Sustain Instructional Effectiveness?

1. Leaders pay close attention to instructional quality. Leaders visit classrooms frequently to gauge student learning. They constantly seek evidence that students are learning what their teachers are teaching. Regularly, leaders share this evidence in ways that build the capacity of teachers from day to day, creating a culture of professional growth.

How Do High-Performing Schools Build and Sustain Instructional Effectiveness?

2. Leaders help educators support each other in learning how to teach students more effectively and efficiently.

Leaders provide time and support in a manner that helps educators learn that one of their primary roles is to support the ongoing learning of their colleagues.

How Do High-Performing Schools Build and Sustain Instructional Effectiveness?

3. Leaders help educators focus on one or two instructional issues at a time.

Leaders don’t ask educators to do everything at once. They work with their teachers to develop mastery on one or two practices at a time. They don’t shift focus until a high rate of mastery has been achieved.

How Do High-Performing Schools Build and Sustain Instructional Effectiveness?

4. Leaders help everyone remember that learning should be interesting and exciting.Leaders help educators teach in ways that students like to learn. They encourage teachers to build upon students interests, backgrounds, cultures, and prior knowledge. They help educators consider how they can make learning enjoyable.

How Do High-Performing Schools Build and Sustain Instructional Effectiveness?

5. Improvement is rewarded. Lack of improvement is not. Lack of effort is not tolerated. Leaders communicate their passion to transform relationships, teaching, and learning through their actions. They reward improvement efforts and they make clear that a lack of effort is unacceptable.