We believe…

Lesson alignment just as the instructional planning calendar is at the center of our instructional program. We know that lesson alignment is the connection between learning objectives, learning activities and assessment. An aligned course means that learning objectives, activities and assessments match up so students learn what one intends and one accurately assesses what students are learning.

The teacher actions that are pivotal for lesson alignment and for setting high standards are:

• Writing the exemplar response that the teacher wants students to deliver at the end of the lesson

• Role play 1st time instruction for part of the lesson cycle

• Explicitly model the knowledge and skills we expect to see students deliver at the end of the lesson

• Build independent practice into every lesson

• Monitor aggressively when students do independent work, so the teachers know exactly where students struggle and can address the misconception in the moment.