Elements of Effective Teaching in Today's Classrooms

Does your lesson plan include scientifically-proven methods and approaches, diversified and differentiated instruction, child-centered activities, all learning styles, student choice, student interests, technology, and at least one cross-curricular component? For most of us, they probably don't. We can provide a million excuses, but the bottom line is they are essential in providing an education for the students in our classes of today of multiple skills and abilities.

1. Scientifically-proven methods and strategies are simply that. They are scientifically and research-verified approaches deemed as the best in teaching students with variety of skills and ability levels.

2. Diversified and Differentiated Instruction is just what it means in the business world. Diversified means you have plenty of products, like the multiple products we have in providing student instruction. We can use the television, field trips, computers, books, handouts, and others. Differentiated is having several different types of the same product. For instructional purposes, this is just like providing three tests that assess the same information but are designed for different learning levels.

a. (upper level question) What are the causes of the Revolutionary War? Explain why.

b. (middle level question) List three causes of the revolutionary war.

c. (lower-level) Out of the choices below, what is one cause of the revolutionary war?

3. Child-Centered Activities are usually small group activities where students can talk, collaborate, investigate, and develop conclusions. This is usually through inquiry-based, discovery learning, or collaborating groups. Other approaches such as think-pair-share may be used as a quick child-centered activity.

4. Learning Styles include auditory, visual, and tactile. Small group settings almost always provide all three learning styles in one activity. They get to discuss their work (auditory), see what they are doing (visual), and manipulate tangible items (tactile).

5. Student Choice is where students have a say in their learning. Teachers may give them a choice in which activity out of three to complete in learning different concepts. Or, an activity that demonstrates their knowledge of a given standard. It may be completed in the form of a report, diorama, test, or other method.

6. Student Interests are areas that teachers need to include in their lessons. Begin the year with a interest survey. Find out what the kids are interested in and wherever possible, include it in the lessons throughout the school year. Student choice and discovery learning also tend to interest students.

7. Technology is everywhere and the students have grown up with multiple gadgets. It is important to provide technology to students to us so they can function in our techno world.

8. Cross-Curricular activities are important to include because they provide transference. Students often keep the different disciplines or classes compartmentalized and separated. They need to be aware that each one can influence or be included in other disciplines.

The classes in our past are just that--in our past. They no longer exist. Our classes of today focus on multiple levels and learning abilities.True, it started because of inclusion. However with this addition, our classes of today are more apt to meet all student needs. Think about it, that means that the upper level students who tend get bored are going to be challenged, the middle students who tend to get ignored will have opportunities to develop social skills while working in small groups, and the lower-level who usually receive additional help will be able to participate with his or her peers. So, the old saying that if you can help just one child you are doing great is not good enough. Today, teachers goal is to reach each and every single child in their classroom while using a variety of tools and approaches