Research-based instructional practices are strategies of teaching that have been studied for effectiveness in student learning.
These practices, instruction methods, and interventions are also referred to as evidenced-based, research-based, scientifically based, and data-based.
"If an educational strategy is evidence-based, data-based, or research-based, educators compile, analyze, and use objective evidence to inform the design an academic program or guide the modification of instructional techniques" (Great Schools Partnership, 2014).
Silver, Strong, and Perini (2007) list some of the most commonly used research-based strategies in their ASCD book The Strategic Teacher: Selecting the Right Research-Based Strategy for Every Lesson.
Some of these top level strategies also have sub-strategies that can be applied to content-specific or themed lessons.
The Art and Science of Teaching by
Though classroom instructional strategies should clearly be based on sound science and research, knowing when to use them and with whom is more of an art. In The Art and Science of Teaching: A Comprehensive Framework for Effective Instruction, author Robert J. Marzano presents a model for ensuring quality teaching that balances the necessity of research-based data with the equally vital need to understand the strengths and weaknesses of individual students. He articulates his framework in the form of 10 questions that represent a logical planning sequence for successful instructional design: 1. What will I do to establish and communicate learning goals, track student progress, and celebrate success? 2. What will I do to help students effectively interact with new knowledge? 3. What will I do to help students practice and deepen their understanding of new knowledge? 4. What will I do to help students generate and test hypotheses about new knowledge? 5. What will I do to engage students? 6. What will I do to establish or maintain classroom rules and procedures? 7. What will I do to recognize and acknowledge adherence and lack of adherence to classroom rules and procedures? 8. What will I do to establish and maintain effective relationships with students? 9. What will I do to communicate high expectations for all students? 10. What will I do to develop effective lessons organized into a cohesive unit? For classroom lessons to be truly effective, educators must examine every component of the teaching process with equal resolve. Filled with charts, rubrics, and organizers, this methodical, user-friendly guide will help teachers examine and develop their knowledge and skills, so they can achieve that dynamic fusion of art and science that results in exceptional teaching and outstanding student achievement.
Using Common Core Standards to Enhance Classroom Instruction and Assessment by
Discover how to weave an in-depth understanding of the Common Core into successful classroom practice with this two-part resource. You'll learn how to power the standards with guided assessment and measure student progress in a way that accurately reflects learning. Included are hundreds of ready-to-use, research-based proficiency scales for both English language arts and mathematics.
Vocabulary for the Common Core by
The Common Core State Standards present unique demands on students' ability to learn vocabulary and teachers' ability to teach it. The authors address these challenges in this resource. Work toward the creation of a successful vocabulary program, guided by both academic and content-area terms taken directly from the mathematics and English language arts standards.
Making Standards Useful in the Classroom by
Has the standards movement in the United States led to improved classroom instruction and effective assessment? In too many cases, the answer is no. As authors Robert J. Marzano and Mark W. Haystead explain, two major reasons account for this situation: state and national standards documents typically identify far more content than teachers can actually teach during a school year, and the standards are not written in a manner that supports effective instruction and assessment. In Making Standards Useful in the Classroom, Marzano and Haystead present a way to convert standards documents into a format that teachers can actually use to guide instruction and to create meaningful formative assessments. In Part I of this practical guide, teachers, administrators, and curriculum specialists will find answers to questions such as these: * What are the steps to follow in unpacking and rewriting standards so they are useful for classroom teachers? * What is a measurement topic and what kind of content should it include? * How can measurement topics be organized into a coherent system for learning and assessment? * Why is averaging a flawed method for calculating grades? * What is the best way to assess learning and determine a grade that accurately represents students' growth in knowledge and skill? Part II of the book consists of scoring scales with sample measurement topics for language arts, math, science, and social studies for kindergarten through 8th grade, and sample measurement topics for life skills for kindergarten through 12th grade. Using the samples as a guide, districts and schools can create their own systems for translating standards into useful components of effective instruction and formative assessment that truly drive student learning.