INTASC 8. Instructional Strategies

The teacher understands and uses a variety of instructional strategies to encourage learners to develop deep understanding of content areas and their connections, and to build skills to apply knowledge in meaningful ways.

 

     It is important for a social studies teacher to use a variety of instructional strategies in the classroom. As I have mentioned before, a teacher cannot lecture to students five days a week for a whole class period. A teacher needs to do much more in order to help students have fun and learn in the classroom.

     During my time in the education program I have been exposed to a variety of instructional strategies. Before graduate school I knew that you could play videos in class and review games to help students be engaged in the lesson. However, during my Content Area and Literacy class I began to be exposed to more specific instructional strategies to help a diverse range of students learn. Some of these strategies included read-think-pair-share, fishbowl discussion, anticipation guides, and split-page note taking which I presented to the class with John Miller (See Evidence 1 and 2). In the Fall Methods course I continued to be exposed to a variety of instructional strategies including significance cards, frames, and concept mastery. I began to use some of the instructional strategies I had recently learned during the Fall including a frame, anticipation guide, values continuum, and an exit slip.

     I continued to use the instructional strategies I have learned during my time in the education program in the Spring. I implemented multiple frames during my student teaching. I also implemented one concept mastery routine and two unit organizer routines (See Evidence 3). I also used some instructional strategies from my cooperating teacher including visuals, guided readings, map activities, and review games like zip-around or trashcan basketball jeopardy (See Evidence 4). Also, during the Spring I created an instructional strategies cheat sheet that has a list of all the instructional strategies I would consider using in my classroom (See Evidence 5).

     I will continue to use a variety of instructional strategies when I teach in the future (See Evidence 6). It will be important for me to become more comfortable with using even more instructional strategies in the classroom. I need to make sure that I take into consideration grade level and the skill level of the class when I plan out what instructional strategies I want to use in class. It will also be important for me to continue to integrate technology into instructional strategies I implement in the classroom in order to engage students and help them learn.

 

Evidence