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Rationale: In order for teachers to clearly and effectively communicate learning intentions, success criteria, and lesson rationales to students, they must first have internalized these things themselves. Just as it is important for teachers to communicate these components effectively to students on a lesson-by-lesson basis, it is equally vital that they do so through the lens of an entire unit or module of study. A teacher's influence on student learning centers around effective instruction, and clarity within effective instruction has a proven, powerful effect of student outcomes. As such, it is critical that teachers regularly engage together in Collaborative Teacher Teams to develop learning progressions that clearly define learning targets from a broader instructional standpoint.
Learning Intention: Participants will explore teacher clarity, including the components of the strategy and why it is effective. Participants will then practice using teacher clarity to unpack standards and plan lessons, as well as consider how to communicate with students what, why, and how they are learning a skill/concept.
Success Criteria: Participants will know they are successful when they…
Practice common terminology to understand the key features of teacher clarity
Practice aligning learning intentions, rationale, and success criteria to a standards-based lesson
Describe how to establish elements of teacher clarity in lesson planning
Describe how to communicate elements of teacher clarity to students
Instructions: Before engaging in the Teacher Clarity module, make a copy of the note taking template by clicking the green "Note Taking Template" button below. Then, please view the Teacher Clarity: Get Started slide show to the left of the green "Note Taking Template" button.
To view the slide show, place your mouse in the top right-hand corner of the slide and click on the grey box with the white arrow to begin. To listen to the audio associated with each slide, click the speaker icon in the lower right corner of each slide.
Each slide has a voice recording that provides further details or instructions. Please ensure your speakers are on and the volume is up.
Total Module Time: ~65-75 min
Access the note taking template by clicking on the button above that says "Note Taking Template". A new window will open, prompting you to make a copy of the template. Hit the blue "Make a Copy" button (see image below). This will create a copy in Google Drive for your personal use.
Building Background
Building Background
Activity: Know, Wonder, Learned (suggested time: 5 min)
Activity: Know, Wonder, Learned (suggested time: 5 min)
Activity: Know, Wonder, Learned (suggested time: 5 min)
Activity: Know, Wonder, Learned (suggested time: 5 min)
Consider Your Background Knowledge (5 min) It is possible that you’ve heard of teacher clarity or even already completed some professional learning around the idea. Or, maybe you’re hearing this term for the very first time! In the first two columns of the chart in your copy of the note-taking template, consider the background knowledge that you are bringing to this module. You can type your thoughts in each column by placing your mouse next to each green bullet and clicking in the column. What do you already know about teacher clarity? What are you wondering? Don’t worry about the last column yet - we’ll come back to that at the end!
Now, deepen your learning by watching Teacher Clarity: Building Background.
To view the slide show, place your mouse in the top right-hand corner of the slide and click on the grey box with the white arrow to begin.
Each slide has a voice recording that provides further details or instructions. Please ensure your speakers are on and the volume is up.
Total slide show time: 5.5 minutes
As you click through the slides and listen to the audio, you can take notes in your copy of your note taking template. To type in each section, place your mouse next to the green bullet where you wish to type and click it so that you can begin typing.
After you read and listen to the audio on the last slide of Teacher Clarity: Building Background, check the boxes that align with what you have learned about learning intentions, rationale, and success criteria. You can check the box you want by placing your mouse over the box and clicking it. A check will appear in the box.
Practice Scenarios
Practice Scenarios
Start to apply your learning by watching Teacher Clarity: Practice Scenarios.
To view the slide show, place your mouse in the top right-hand corner of the slide and click on the grey box with the white arrow to begin.
Each slide has a voice recording that provides further details or instructions. Please ensure your speakers are on and the volume is up.
Total slide show time: 11 minutes
Activity: Practice Scenarios (suggested time: 15 min)
Activity: Practice Scenarios (suggested time: 15 min)
Step 1: Read and Evaluate (4 min) Pause the slides in the learning space at the beginning of each scenario. First, read the scenario in your copy of the note-taking template. This scenario includes the learning intention, rationale, and success criteria in a given standards-aligned lesson. Then, using the teacher clarity criteria, evaluate each element of teacher clarity and whether it displays successful deployment of this evidence-based instructional strategy. In the last column of in the rows describing the learning intention, Rationale, and Success Criteria there is text that says "Success? Yes/No". Bold the "Yes" or "No" text according to whether the element is successful on the note-taking guide. Text can be bolded by clicking the Bold capital "B" in the middle of your Google tool bar (see image under screenshot of note taker).
Step 2: Check Your Work (1 min) Click through the slides to check your answers.
Step 3: Repeat for Other Scenarios (10 min) Go through the next two scenarios and repeat the steps to evaluate the elements of teacher clarity.
Delivery to Students
Delivery to Students
Think more about communicating teacher clarity to students by watching Teacher Clarity: Delivery to Students.
To view the slide show, place your mouse in the top right-hand corner of the slide and click on the grey box with the white arrow to begin.
Each slide has a voice recording that provides further details or instructions. Please ensure your speakers are on and the volume is up.
Total slide show time: 30 seconds
Activity: Delivery to Students (suggested time: 25 min)
Activity: Delivery to Students (suggested time: 25 min)
Step 1: Self Assess (7 min) Immediately below is a series of “look fors” for effective implementation of teacher clarity within classroom instruction. Reflect on your current practice related to teacher clarity by completing the stoplight activity below in your copy of the note taker. Place an X or your initial to rate your implementation of each component of teacher clarity by placing your mouse in the top right corner of the box you wish to type in and clicking inside the box.
Step 2: Explore Methods of Delivery & Note (13 min) Below the chart of Look Fors, you will see a chart with three columns labeled "Learning Intentions", "Rationale", and "Success Criteria". In each column, there are three resources. Choose one resource from each column by placing your mouse on the blue title of the resource you want to explore and clicking it to deepen your understanding of how teachers might communicate the components of teacher clarity to their students. You might focus your exploration around the areas for improvement you noticed in your stoplight reflection. As you explore the resources, use the space below the chart in your note-taking template to note new learning about each of the components. You can take notes in the open note taking space by placing your mouse next to the green bullet and clicking so that you may begin typing text.
Step 3: Reflect (5 min) Quick write your responses to the following questions:
How do you currently communicate with students? (ex. PowerPoints, handouts, lecture, PBL, visual cues)
How might it be especially important to be clear in your expectations/content delivery to create positive student outcomes?
You can type your responses by placing your response in the box where you would like to type and clicking so that you may begin typing your text.
Closing
Closing
Activity: Know, Wonder, Learned (suggested time: 5 min)
Activity: Know, Wonder, Learned (suggested time: 5 min)
Reflect on Your Learning (5 min) Take a few minutes to record what you've learned about teacher clarity in the KWL chart at the top of your copy of the note taking template. To type in column, place your mouse next to the green bullet and click in the box so you can begin typing. You may also want to add additional questions you have about the topic and consider who you can contact for more support with teacher clarity at your school site. You can add additional thoughts and questions by clicking the "Enter" key on your keyboard after you complete a sentence. This will add another green bullet to the column where you are typing.
Activity: End of Module Assessment (suggested time: 5 min)
Activity: End of Module Assessment (suggested time: 5 min)
Complete the module with this quick assessment in which you'll solidify your learning and make commitments to carry teacher clarity into your practice. To type in the form, place your mouse over the line where you wish to type and click so that you may type text. To select a choice from the multiple choice questions, place your mouse over your choice and click to select that choice.
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