Instructional Strategies

SPEAK With Purpose

Looking to increase speaking opportunities for students in your classroom? Check out these strategies for ideas!

Warm Up the Cold Call

As one of our Teach Like a Champion strategies, the cold call is something we're all familiar with, but it's also the one that can induce anxiety for some students. What if you could "warm up" the cold call so that students could feel better prepared to answer the question when their time comes? Interested? Check out these strategies for ideas!

Inside-Outside Circles

Split class into two groups (one inside circle, one outside, facing each other). Each student has a question/topic on a notecard to discuss with their circle partner, taking turns to share. Once done, outer circle rotates, and new discussions start. Repeat until all have met, then provide an exit ticket or other opportunity to write.

WRITE With Purpose

Looking to increase opportunities for student writing in your classroom? Check out these strategies for ideas!

Carousel

Place students in small groups (3-4). Each group will report to their own chart paper taped to the wall around the room, each with a discussion question / topic at the top. Students are given 4-6 minutes to read, discuss, and then write their answers on the chart paper. When time is up, have students rotate to the next group's chart paper, and in 4-6 minutes, read that groups question and responses before contributing new ideas. Repeat until groups return to their original chart paper, then have groups create a summary of their page to present to the class. Ask students to record all summaries in a document or graphic organizer to be turned in.

Write Around

Place students in small groups (3-4). Each group will get a piece of paper with an open-ended question or topic at the top (you may also give each group member their own question to answer). Students are given 1-2 minutes to provide their response. When time is up, students rotate paper to the next group member who then reads the question and the previous response, and expands on these ideas with additional insight / details / evidence. Repeat until all group members have answered the question. Give groups 2 minutes to discuss, then share with the class.

READ With Purpose

If you're looking to increase reading opportunities and improve reading comprehension in your classroom, check out these strategies!