1. Tell them what they are going to learn. Students can hit any target as long as you don’t move it. Start the lesson by telling them what you expect them to learn. Flat out say, “Today we are going to learn what the Mayflower Compact is and why it’s important.” Or, “Today we are going to learn how to solve equations with two variables.” This way the students know exactly what they are supposed to learn.
2. Access prior knowledge. NEVER skip this step. It is really important that students have something to tie the new information too. If the students have no prior knowledge then you will have to front load knowledge. Show a movie, take a walk, read a book, do something ANYTHING to give them something attach the new subject to.
3. Give the students opportunities to process and summarize their learning. Give them the opportunity to use their knowledge in class and see that they have the opportunity to process it outside of class. Make the new knowledge part of classroom discussions throughout the week and beyond. Referring back to the new knowledge requires the students to summarize in their brains what they learned.
4. Teach the students about self-evaluation. They need to know if they are learning the new information. Once they know if they are learning it or not they can adjust their learning and figure out what it’s going to take to learn it. ie…pay attention, do homework, ask more questions, do independent practice…
5. Use a variety of teaching methods to real the different learning styles of your students. Don’t just stand and lecture. Some students learn very well this way, others…not so much. It is best when the same information is given in a variety of ways. The students get an opportunity to learn the information and review it. The more ways they are exposed to the information the longer they will retain and understand the information.
6. Let the students learn. I have always told my students that I can teach them the information but that I can not learn it for them. They need to be the learners. They need to actively learn. Give them the opportunities to learn, not just sit and listen to you lecture (they really don’t listen when you are lecturing, they are usually writing notes, daydreaming, or completing homework from another class unless you are entertaining. It’s a sad but true fact.)
7. Be aware of the assessments that are going to judge what the students are learning. Use a variety of questioning techniques including a style that mirrors any standardized tests they will need to know the new information for.
8. Your classroom environment is the single most important thing you can control. You are the only person in control of your classroom. Make sure you are aware of that and remind the students of that as needed.
9. Focus on learning. Your job is to make sure the students are learning. Let compliance go out the door. Don’t worry about everything else. The learning is what is important. Do whatever it takes to make sure the students have the opportunity to learn.
10. Teach your procedures. Think about how you want things done, and teach the students to do it. Your success at teaching procedures will directly impact the kind of year you will have.
