Comprehension

activate background knowledge

  • Anchor instruction by linking to and activating relevant prior knowledge (e.g., using visual imagery, concept anchoring, or concept mastery routines)

  • Use advanced organizers (e.g., KWL methods, concept maps)

  • Pre-teach critical prerequisite concepts through demonstration or models

  • Bridge concepts with relevant analogies and metaphors

  • Make explicit cross-curricular connections (e.g., teaching literacy strategies in the social studies classroom)

Highlight patterns & big ideas

  • Highlight or emphasize key elements in text, graphics, diagrams, formulas

  • Use outlines, graphic organizers, unit organizer routines, concept organizer routines, and concept mastery routines to emphasize key ideas and relationships

  • Use multiple examples and non-examples to emphasize critical features

  • Use cues and prompts to draw attention to critical features

  • Highlight previously learned skills that can be used to solve unfamiliar problems

Guide information processing

  • Give explicit prompts for each step in a sequential process

  • Provide options for organizational methods and approaches (tables and algorithms for processing mathematical operations)

  • Provide interactive models that guide exploration and new understandings

  • Introduce graduated scaffolds that support information processing strategies

  • Provide multiple entry points to a lesson and optional pathways through content (e.g., exploring big ideas through dramatic works, arts, literature, film, and media)

  • “Chunk” information into smaller elements

  • Progressively release information (e.g., sequential highlighting)

  • Remove unnecessary distractions unless they are essential to the instructional goal

Maximize transfer & Generalization

  • Provide checklists, organizers, sticky notes, electronic reminders

  • Prompt the use of mnemonic strategies and devices (e.g., visual imagery, paraphrasing strategies, method of loci, etc.)

  • Incorporate explicit opportunities for review and practice

  • Provide templates, graphic organizers, concept maps to support note-taking

  • Provide scaffolds that connect new information to prior knowledge (e.g., word webs, half-full concept maps)

  • Embed new ideas in familiar ideas and contexts (e.g., use of analogy, metaphor, drama, music, film, etc.)

  • Provide explicit, supported opportunities to generalize learning to new situations (e.g., different types of problems that can be solved with linear equations, using physics principles to build a playground)

  • Offer opportunities over time to revisit key ideas and linkages between ideas