Instructional Plans

INSTRUCTIONAL PLANS

Traditional Lessons

Objectives: Utilize teacher directed lessons to teach subjects that must be approached from initial human instruction.Utilize teacher promoted lessons to support standards.Utilize cooperative learning to institue engaged learning into your classroom.

Preparation Steps & Implementation:

  • Never assume that your student knows something and you haven't taught it.
  • Cover the pre-requisites for a new skill before introduction of subject.
  • Repeat the new lesson in a variety of ways to accomodate the visual and textual learner.
  • Begin each lesson with 3 to 5 minute fun actvities related to lessons (student involvement as leader/instructor)
  • When a large percent of students have failed the assessment/evaluation - reteach the skill.
  • Allow your student time to answer your question - do not move to another student for the answer quickly - coach the student with their response.
  • Plan your lessons as students realize when the teacher is not prepared and is giving busy work.
  • Decrease the use of dittos!
  • Get student input for projects.
  • Begin new lessons with KWL philosophy.
  • Evaluate the amount of class time used for teacher directed lessons, independent lessons, cooperative learning, etc.
  • Collaborate with colleagues and compare how they are teaching the same standard.
  • Involve your students in projects with other classes in your school and outside of your school.

Web Lessons

Objectives: Use the Internet as a static information collection tool. Use the Internet as a dynamic information collection tool. Use the Internet to collect, manipulate, and publish information, theories, or ideas.
Preparation Steps & Implementation:

  • Pre-select a number of sites centered around a specific topic supporting your classroom curriculum. Bookmark the sites or provide the addresses in writing.
  • Prepare a collection of data-related closure questions that your class will need to answer based only on their group discussions and graphic organizer/research.
  • Create a scavenger hunt, which is a collection of questions that have specific (closed-ended) answers that students can find on the pre-selected Web sites. Remember if your students are looking for needles in a haystack, they will run the risk of never learning how to figure out what's important for themselves.
  • Provide enough time for your students to thoroughly research the material you've given them. Some students will benefit from veing in collaborative teams with working roles/jobs.
  • Remember to consider your students' reading levels when you are selecting sites for them. A collection of 3 or 4 sites usually means a variety of reading levels.
  • Select a project topic that supports your curriculum.
  • Implement the idea that the whole point of data collection and information management is to learn to manipulate and use the data once you've received it.............
  • Review with your students the proprieties of online research: note taking devices (graphic organizers), MLA citation styles, etc.
  • Help your students groups to write clear, well developed inquiry statements.
  • Once written and approved, all inquires should be posted thoughout the classroom or on a web site so that all teams can support each other with their research findings.
  • Upon completion of online research students should form an answer to their inquiry.

Click here to return to home page

 



The contents of the Web Institute Web Site, including the On-Line Curriculum, Web Tank, and Session Notes, are Copyright 1999-2001, Graham School of General Studies, University of Chicago. No one may print, copy, or otherwise reproduce these materials without the express written permission of the Director of the Web Institute for Teachers or the Dean of the Graham School. All rights reserved.