Embedded Files
Best First Instruction & Personalized Learning
Best First Instruction & Personalized Learning
2025-2026 Best First Instruction Focus:
Ensuring clarity in teaching and learning and increased student discourse.
Do we have clarity as teachers what the learning is and what it looks like when students get there? Learn More.
Clarity Strategies
To and Through
Learning GPS
Work Sample
Discourse
Stems
Turn and Talk (w/Conjunctions)
Think, Pair, Share
Consensus Placemat
Value Line
Cooperative Strategies
Kleinman, Emily (2016). Higher Order Thinking through Academic Discussion. NYC Transfer School Common Core Institute , 33
Think-Pair-Share
Students work together to solve a problem or answer a question
High on Hattie
Kleinman, Emily (2016). Higher Order Thinking through Academic Discussion. NYC Transfer School Common Core Institute , 34
Consensus Placemat
Each student comes up with their own idea in their box. They must collaborate to find an answer that all agree with.
Value Line
A cooperative learning strategy-- Students arrange themselves on a line based on belief
Cooperative Learning StructuresValue Line, Turn-to-your-Neighbor, Think-Pair-Share, Jigsaw, Round Table
Explicit Skill and Strategy Instruction
Explicit Skill and Strategy Instruction
Think Aloud
verbalize your thinking out loud so students can hear what the thoughts of the expert are while they do a skill
High on Hattie; Create your own!
Thinking Prompts
a device presented to students to promote productive conversation in a classroom
High on Hattie
Stories are one of the best engaging strategies. But... there is an equation to making them work well!
Copy of Teaching Skills and Strategies Explicitly Asset ExplorationDesign
Design
A studio is a 9 or 18 week problem-based unit. It is the map teachers design of the learning that will be done inside the classroom.
What is the process to design a studio?
What is the process to design a studio?
Meeting Learner Needs
Meeting Learner Needs
How to ensure we plan for those in front of us?
Being responsive to students begins with clarity for teachers.
Do we know the learning intentions and success criteria (the aim), not just the project or tasks students are working on?
How do we meet learner needs?
We gather data based on the learning
We group based on need
We plan for those groups
We gather the data (where are you?)
We group based on need
We plan for those groups
Formative Assessment & Reflection
Formative Assessment & Reflection
One Sentence Summaries
After covering material, have students write one sentence that sums up their understanding
Copy of reDesign Generic Formative Task Templates (Learning Evidence) ALLFormative Assessment Templates by Learning Cycle Stages (reDesign)
If you are wanting to use templates to ensure student thinking, look no further!
Copy of Design Guide: Crafting Synthesis and Reflection PromptsSynthesis and Reflection as Next Step Ready Prompts
This guide will have you creating great tasks for students to see where they are in their learning!
Feedback to Support Learning
Feedback to Support Learning
Conferencing for high quality feedback
Conferencing for high quality feedback
Conferencing is a 1:1 with a learner using their product or performance to gain access to where they are in their learning. This could be a formative assessment or performance task.
Meet with the student using conferencing protocol
Have the learner take notes on the feedback template for revisions later
Use the log to keep note on what needs the student has and what changes in instruction need to occur.
What Conferencing Looks Like
Using Thinking Routines
Using Thinking Routines
Click the link
Choose the category of thinking you want students to try "I want students to synthesize-- I'll use "I used to think, Now I think"
Choose one of the thinking routines to try!
Vertical Learning & Fishbowl
Page updated
Report abuse