Instructional Playbook
Welcome to the Meridian Academy Instructional Playbook.
Instructional Strategies
Planning Strategies
Studio Design
Formative Assessment
Community Building
Learner-Centered Strategies
Instructional & Planning Strategies
We put it all together in the menu!
Instruction at Meridian Academy is focused on:
Flexible Learning Environments
Launch, Investigate, Synthesis
Multiple modalities based on classroom needs
High Impact Strategies
Formative assessment for decision making
We are no longer sage on the stage, but now guide on the side!
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
Effective Questioning
Asking the right questions at the right time for student experiences
High on Hattie; Examine your ?s
Stories are one of the best engaging strategies. But... there is an equation to making them work well!
Cooperative Learning StructuresValue Line, Turn-to-your-Neighbor, Think-Pair-Share, Jigsaw, Round Table
Value Line
A cooperative learning strategy-- Students arrange themselves on a line based on belief
Consensus Placemat
Each student comes up with their own idea in their box. They must collaborate to find an answer that all agree with.
Think-Pair-Share
Students work together to solve a problem or answer a question
High on Hattie
Creating & Design Strategies
Before creating your studios, I highly recommend you read Learning as Creating. This will walk you through the theory, the why, and the how, along with GREAT visuals that will make it clear.
Learning as Creating | A reDesign Concept Paper (2021).pdfDesign your performance task through this organizer. Use the Teacher Competencies to ensure you Design for Engagement & Impact!
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!
Community Building Strategies
Create Connection Reflect on Behavior Repair Rupture
Restorative Guide for when we make mistakes
Use when we make mistakes to guide us. This is needs to happen every time. We don't punish based on how we feel. We also don't let things slide. We hold high expectations for all.
Restorative Circle Process Learn about Restorative Practices with strategies like:
Checklists
I- statements
Affective Language Stems
Questions and Prompts
MAHS Behavior Reflection.pdfLearner Behavior Reflection (Step 2)
Step 2 is where we pause and ask students about their behavior. This is after we have already explained the expectation. It is imperative we do this with students, not as a worksheet they do independently and alone.
Learner-Centered Strategies
The CBE Classroom Strategies were curated by reDesign + 2Revolutions
Why make the shift to Learner-Centered inside YOUR classroom?
Making the shift to a learner-centered approach to instruction is not something that happens overnight. It is a process where both teachers and students must learn how to take on their roles successfully. Classrooms become places where students construct, rather than receive, knowledge. And the definition of "classroom" expands, as all learning is valued regardless of the location in which it took place.
1: Expand Student Talk
START HERE!
Read about Expanding Student Talk!
Higherorderthinking.pdfKleinman, Emily (2016). Higher Order Thinking through Academic Discussion. NYC Transfer School Common Core Institute , 1-46
Visual: What it Looks Like:
Kleinman, Emily (2016). Higher Order Thinking through Academic Discussion. NYC Transfer School Common Core Institute , 33
Kleinman, Emily (2016). Higher Order Thinking through Academic Discussion. NYC Transfer School Common Core Institute , 34
Kleinman, Emily (2016). Higher Order Thinking through Academic Discussion. NYC Transfer School Common Core Institute , 35
Building 21 + West Ada Academies
2: 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.
Visual: What it Looks Like:
3. Flip: I do, We do, You do -----> YOU do, WE do, I do.
Learner-Centered Activities
2Revolutions, Curriculum
4 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
