A willingness to bring new teaching strategies into your lesson plan is one of the best qualities a teacher can have. Show
In Effective Teaching and Learning, educational researcher Naga Subramani argues that an effective teacher: “Constantly renews himself [or herself] as a professional on his [or her] quest to provide students with the highest quality of education possible. This teacher has no fear of learning new teaching strategies or incorporating new technologies into lessons.” Classroom teaching strategies and techniques1. Classroom management strategiesInfographic: 20 Classroom Management Strategies and Techniques. Click to expand! According to research from 2006, teachers overwhelmingly reported a lack of professional development support when it came to improving their own classroom management strategies. This can lead to confusion for students and frustration for teachers. When students clearly understand what’s expected of them, they’re more likely to be focused and engaged with their lessons. Some tips for building a positive environment include:
Kristine Fourman, a teacher in the Bucyrus Elementary Preschool Program, connects student seating and academics: “When students aren’t trying to hold themselves still in their chairs, they can integrate auditory, visual and tactile systems of the body.” There are so many different ways to incorporate flexible seating into your classroom in a way that fits with your students’ learning goals. For examples and best practices, read Flexible Seating: 21 Awesome Ideas for Your Classroom. Norman Webb’s Depth of Knowledge (DoK)is familiar to many teachers from a theoretical perspective, but it can be incredibly difficult to apply practically and consistently in your teaching strategies. There are four DoK levels:
There are a number of engaging activities that can promote different DoK levels: read more about them in Specific Ways to Use Webb’s Depth of Knowledge in Class. Summative assessments are end-of-unit tests, final projects or standardized tests used to assess student understanding on a broad and absolute level. Critics of summative assessments say they’re inauthentic and don’t accurately reflect the learning process. But there are important benefits to using summative assessments as a teaching strategy: they motivate students to pay attention and challenges them to apply their learning. They’re also a valuable source of insight for teachers, especially for those with larger classes -- allowing them to easily identify and correct any wide gaps in understanding across the classroom. Don’t be afraid to get creative when making summative assessments! Read Summative Assessment: A Comprehensive Guide for ideas on how to get students engaged with the testing process. Formative assessments are the opposite of summative assessments because they take place during the teaching process. Formative Assessment
Summative Assessment
Formative assessments can reduce student stress around testing. They give you the chance to course correct mid-unit if there are serious comprehension issues and to see which students might need a bit more one-on-one time. Some examples of formative assessment techniques include:
For more examples and ideas, read 20 Formative Assessment Examples to Try [+Downloadable List]. 6. Active learningPut students at the center of the classroom with active learning strategies — a teaching technique that increases student engagement in daily lessons. According to active learning advocate James Ballencia, the technique can also help teachers as much as it helps students: “With the goal of teaching mindful learners who actively pursue knowledge, teachers become more actively engaged in how they teach the curriculum and how they develop each student’s learning potential. They mix and match a variety of … tactics to ensure that students not only learn more, better, and faster -- they also learn smarter.” Some active learning strategies include:
For more active learning strategies, read 8 Active Learning Strategies and Examples [+ Downloadable List]. Differentiated instruction is a popular and effective teaching strategy that involves reacting to the diverse learning styles in every classroom with adjusted content and processes. Carol Ann Tomlinson, a reputable thought leader on differentiated instruction, recommends analyzing teaching strategies on a constant basis to respond to needs: “Frequently reflect on the match between your classroom and the philosophy of teaching and learning you want to practice. Look for matches and mismatches, and use both to guide you.” Strategies like learning stations and the think-pair-share method are small ways that you can bring unique learning experiences to your students. For more differentiated instruction ideas, read 20 Differentiated Instruction Strategies and Examples [+ Downloadable List]. 8. Personalized learningNo two students are exactly alike. That’s why personalized learning builds a learning experience that addresses the unique abilities of each student. According to a study by the Gates Foundation, personalized learning can improve test scores when used to supplement math class: “Students attending [schools using personalized learning] made gains in math and reading over the last two years that are significantly greater than a virtual control group made up of similar students selected from comparable schools.” Personalized learning allows students to learn without stigma and gets students involved in what they’re learning. Explore different options for bringing personalized learning to your classroom, including Edtech teaching strategies and increased student involvement. For a full list of tips, read 7 Personalized Learning Strategies and Examples. 9. Universal design for learningUniversal design for learning (UDL) is an educational framework that ensures all students have equal access to education. Use it in your classroom to give unique students flexible ways to learn and become more goal-oriented. Some best practices for UDL:
UDL gives all students an impactful learning experience and helps teachers focus their efforts on students who need it most. For more information on how to make sure all your students succeed, read Universal Design for Learning: Principles and Examples. Response to intervention (RTI) focuses on early and continuous identification, assessment and assistance for students who have learning or behaviour needs. It’s best used as part of a more general classroom management plan, and involves small-group or individual intervention that quickly addresses trouble spots. The most effective RTI strategies are proactive. Start with everyday teaching and move to targeted intervention as soon as you spot a problem. When you’re prepared to move quickly, you’re more likely to be able to develop a tailored and effective learning plan. For more information on RTI strategies and tips for bringing them to your classroom, read The Teacher’s Response to Intervention (RTI) Guide: Tiers, Strategies and More. Technology is a great way to improve student engagement and get students excited for class, but it can be difficult to incorporate seamlessly into the classroom. There are an endless number of ways to make use technology to enhance lessons, including:
For more ideas on how to use technology in the classroom, read 25 Easy Ways to Use Technology in the Classroom [+ Downloadable List]. Math teaching strategies and techniques12. Math gamesSimilar to classroom gamification, math games can play an active role in getting students engaged in class and excited to learn. Offline or online, they’re usually customizable and easy to incorporate into other teaching strategies. Some examples of popular math games:
For more math games, read 20 Engaging, Skill-Building Math Games for Kids [1st to 8th Grade]. There are thousands of math websites that can be used as part of a game-based learning approach or differentiation strategy. Online resources get students excited about learning math and can often be scaled based on knowledge and grade level. Popular resources include:
Mental math is an important part of math fluency. When students have a quick recall for math facts and can do simple equations quickly, they have the confidence to attempt more difficult problems. The Manitoba Association of Mathematics Teachers defines mental math as: “A combination of cognitive strategies that enhances flexible thinking and number sense. It is calculating mentally without the use of external memory aids. It improves computational fluency by developing efficiency, accuracy, and flexibility.” There are lots of resources available to boost mental math skills, including:
For more ways to practice mental math skills, read 12 Practices to Improve Students’ Mental Math + Downloadable List. 15. Common Core mathCommon Core math is a new framework that seeks to improve students’ conceptual understanding of math by encouraging problem-solving, critical thinking, and discussion skills. Since it’s so new, instructors have struggled to prepare materials that align with the standards. If that’s you, here are some techniques to get you started:
For a detailed explanation of the eight standards and ways to teach them, read 8 Common Core Math Standards, Explained [+ Examples]. 16. Solve math problems fasterTeaching students to solve math problems quickly and without help can improve confidence and math fluency. Provided your students have a solid grasp on the concepts behind what they’ve already mastered, math “tricks” can give them more confidence and get them excited about trying new problems.There are tricks for just about every basic function, including:
For a full list of math tricks, read How to Solve Math Problems Faster: 15 Techniques to Show Students. Multiplication is a big and often daunting step for learners, who feel like they’ve just mastered addition and are suddenly being thrown something new. Teachers also often struggle to communicate new concepts to student effectively. What if we told you that multiplication could be one of the most rewarding lessons you ever taught? Our six-step guide to teaching multiplication is designed to engage students in the learning processes with a clear and logical progression of ideas. There are lot of fun ways to teach multiplication and reduce student anxiety, including:
Multiplication doesn’t have to be stressful -- start with basic concepts and work your way up, and your students will be multiplication masters in no time at all! Multiplication is a difficult concept for many students to grasp. Memorizing and understanding core multiplication facts is a key element of math fluency, and provides an essential foundation for further study. Game-based learning can be a successful way to help students develop this understanding and can engage students on stressful topic. Some multiplication games include:
For more fun multiplication games, read 15 Multiplication Games to Make Math Lessons Fun. So your unit on fractions is finished, and it’s time to move on -- to multiplying fractions. For some students, this leap is even more daunting than the switch from addition to multiplication. But not to worry! There are teaching strategies that will have your students multiplying fractions in no time at all.Some best practices for teaching your class about multiplying fractions:
For a comprehensive overview on how to teach multiplying fractions, read How to Multiply Fractions (+ 7 Engaging Activities). The only thing scarier for students than multiplying fractions? Dividing them.Lucky for them, we did the research. There are three simple steps to dividing a fraction:
The best way to make sure that students understand how to solve a problem is to make sure that they understand what, exactly, is happening. Instead of just teaching the answer, teach students what the answer means. For more details on dividing fractions, read How to Divide Fractions in 3 Easy Steps. Math puzzles have been around almost as long as math has — for a reason. One study found that math puzzles “develop logical thinking, combinatorial abilities, strengthen the capacity of abstract thinking and operating with spatial images, instill critical thinking and develop mathematical memory.”Math puzzles build foundational skills and increase math fluency, while also connecting to existing curricula and promoting problem-solving skills. Some popular math puzzles include:
Make sure the puzzles are the right level for your students and that they’re being used appropriately. For more ideas on how to use math puzzles in the classroom, read 20 Math Puzzles to Engage Your Students. 22. GamificationClassroom gamification is an effective way to take a child’s love for play and turn it into a love of learning. The benefits are huge: gamification can help students focus and build essential skills. A 2011 study from South Korea also found that gamification kept students motivated and engaged in the classroom. In order to effectively use gamification techniques in your classroom, start with your students: What do they like? Where are their learning needs? Are there any notable behaviour issues? Other tips include:
If you want more examples and techniques for gamifying your classroom, read How to Gamify your Classroom in 5 Easy Steps. 23. Convergent and divergent thinkingConvergent and divergent thinking are two terms coined by American psychologist JP Guilford in the 1950s. Convergent thinking means understanding how separate pieces of information can be used to reach one solution. It’s usually reserved for first or second depth of knowledge (DOK) levels, and can be used to answer questions that require a limited range of skills and knowledge (like multiple choice questions). Convergent and divergent thinking are two terms coined by American psychologist JP Guilford in the 1950s. Convergent thinking means understanding how separate pieces of information can be used to reach one solution. It’s usually reserved for first or second DOK levels, and can be used to answer questions that require a limited range of skills and knowledge (like multiple choice questions). Divergent thinking requires students to start with one prompt, then think critically about it to diverge towards to distinct answers (think essay-writing, brainstorming and creative analyzing). This takes place at the third or fourth DOK level. While convergent thinking is an important part of building math fluency, divergent thinking allows students to understand the base concepts underlying their work. Convergent and divergent thinking are essential skills in any subject. When you understand the difference, you’re better equipped to incorporate both into your classroom. For more examples of each and how to teach them, read How to Teach Convergent and Divergent Thinking: Definitions, Examples, Templates and More. Students have to take an active role in their own learning, but are often disengaged from the learning process. Project-based learning allows students to be fully immersed in an authentic and nuanced problem that has real-life implications. Project-based learning is open-ended, and allows students engaged in group work to find their own way to the solution. It doesn’t look the same in every classroom -- class size, student ability and learning styles play a large role in shaping the process. While proponents point to increased engagement, knowledge retention and improved critical thinking, there are also significant criticisms: Project-based learning can be too focused on product creation instead of learning, and assessment is often subjective. To learn how to effectively incorporate project-based learning techniques into your classroom, read The Definitive Guide to Project-Based Learning: Definition, Debates, Ideas and Examples. Every classroom has a wide range of levels and learning styles, which can be difficult for any teacher to effectively address. Use experiential learning activities to counter student disengagement and get them involved in the learning process. Traditional learning activities
Experiential learning activities
Provide students with new ways of learning to help them stay focused, learn dynamically and learn faster. Engage students in the process of inquiry and reflection! Ask them to create three to five questions (with answers) on a recent lesson. In pairs, have students quiz their partners on the questions they wrote, and watch to see which concepts students consider to be the most important from their lesson. For more experiential learning activities, read 7 Experiential Learning Activities to Engage Students. 26. Peer teachingProponents have been pointing to the advantages of peer teaching since the 18th century. It's one of many teaching strategies that helps develop reasoning and critical thinking skills, and a pioneering 1988 study found it improved self-esteem and interpersonal skills. It can be difficult, however, to bring it to the classroom -- students might have different proficiency levels or be hesitant about teaching their peers, and it can lead to confidentiality issues about which students are struggling. Some best practices for peer teaching include:
For more ideas on how to successfully bring peer teaching to your classroom, read 15 Easy Peer Teaching Strategies to Help Students. Inquiry-based learning has been around since the 1960s, but can still be a demanding teaching strategy to implement in the classroom. In the inquiry-based learning classroom, teachers are responsible for guiding students through their questions — past curiosity and into critical thinking and understanding. There are 4 main types of inquiry-based learning:
A study from the Association for Psychological Science found that students who use inquiry-based learning are more likely to retain information from the activity and curriculum content in general. For more benefits and examples of inquiry-based learning, as well as how to effectively use it in your classroom, read All About Inquiry-Based Learning: Definition, Benefits and Strategies. Problem-based learning is a student-centred pedagogy that puts students in groups to solve open-ended problems together. This teaching strategy has its advantages and disadvantages: Advantages
Disadvantages
Even taking into account the different opinions on problem-based learning, there is an undeniable value in giving students a degree of control over their own education. For more ideas about problem-based learning and tips for designing projects, read 5 Advantages and Disadvantages of Problem-Based Learning [+ Activity Design Steps]. Reading isn't every student’s favorite subject. With reciprocal teaching techniques, you can turn even the most reluctant reader into a bookworm. Reciprocal teaching involves students in reading and gets them excited to learn. Learners are asked to predict what a text is about, ask questions about what they don’t understand, re-read for clarification, and summarize what the text is saying -- instead of just absorbing material as quickly as possible. And the technique can even be adapted for math class: one study found that reciprocal teaching in math can improve understanding of word-based problems, and can help students understand questions better. For more ideas about reciprocal teaching, read 4 Reciprocal Teaching Strategies to Use. 31. Blended learningBlended learning combines online learning with traditional classroom instruction. It’s a valuable tool to use in differentiation teaching strategies, and can help students learn tailored content at their own pace. There are a number of different ways to bring blended learning to your classroom, but some common methods include implementing learning stations and putting certain lessons online in part or entirely. With many classrooms supporting hybrid learning environments in the last two years, blended learning has become a more common teaching strategy across classrooms. For more information on the six blended learning models and how to use them with your students, read How to Put the Six Blended Learning Models into Action [+ Examples & Download]. Diverse classrooms are an amazing opportunity for teachers, but it can also be difficult to reach students with dramatically different backgrounds or learning styles. Culturally responsive teaching aims to link content with students’ contemporary and ancestral cultures. Research by Geneva Gay, Professor of Education at the University of Washington-Seattle and author of Culturally Responsive Teaching, shows that when teaching is tied to lived experiences for students, those experiences are more personally meaningful, appealing and learned more easily and thoroughly. Dr. Christy Byrd, psychologist and Associate Professor at NC State University, has also published research which found that "elements of culturally relevant teaching were significantly associated with academic outcomes and ethnic-racial identity development." Start by getting to know your students — where do they come from? What do their parents or guardians do? What’s their favorite after-school activity? Then, take that information and connect it to your lessons. Explain how a topic relates to different cultures, and make sure the classroom is a place where all students feel empowered. Encourage students to ask questions and share unique answers. Other options for culturally responsive teaching include:
For the full list, read 15 Culturally-Responsive Teaching Strategies and Examples + Downloadable List. Use interdisciplinary teaching strategies to encourage students to develop creative and critical thinking skills — and draw information from a number of different academic disciplines — as they solve real-world problems. In your classroom, interdisciplinary teaching could involve collaboration with other teachers, or asking your students to make connections between different subjects. Try these activities to get your class started:
For more interdisciplinary teaching activities and tips on how to get started, read 10 Interdisciplinary Teaching Activities and Examples [+ Unit Design Steps]. According to the National Youth Leadership Council, service learning is “a philosophy, pedagogy and model for community development that is used as an instructional strategy to meet learning goals and/or content standards.” Service learning brings the classroom into the larger community and teaches students about the value of being an active citizen. Students get hands-on experience in interdisciplinary study, and often improve their academic outcomes and reduce behavioural problems. Service learning contains five steps: Preparation, Action, Reflection, Demonstration, Celebration Pick an issue that your class is passionate about and get them brainstorming. For more service learning project ideas and how to get started, read The Teacher’s Guide to Service Learning [+5 Examples]. Students are saturated with an endless number of different media influences, from TV to social media to comic books. Students need to be educated on how to interpret and understand what they’re consuming. Media literacy allows students to recognize bias and develop critical thinking skills within the context of their existing interests. Some activities you can try in your classroom include:
There are lots of other ways to teach valuable media literacy lessons to students -- check out our Teaching Media Literacy: Its Importance and 10 Engaging Activities [+ Downloadable List] blog post for more ideas. 36. Growth MindsetEven though it sounds more like a corporate buzzword, the philosophy of growth mindset has infiltrated the classroom. It focuses on helping students see the value of effort, persistence and risk in their learning environment, and pushes them to try new things and learn new concepts. Since growth mindset is a relatively new teaching strategy, some teachers might struggle to use it effectively. Here are some best practices:
For more ways to encourage a growth mindset in your classroom, read 10 Ways Teachers can Instill a Growth Mindset in Students. Your students will benefit for the rest of their lives. Books, scholarly articles, maps, news coverage — if there’s something you need to do, there’s probably a Google application for it. Use Google Forms to collect student feedback on new teaching strategies, Google Drive to store and coordinate student papers, and Google Arts & Culture to visit the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam — without ever leaving the classroom. ProdigyWith two games — Prodigy Math and Prodigy English — the applications are endless! Use Assignments and Plans to differentiate learning, track student growth through comprehensive reporting tools, engage students through game-based learning, or use it as part of a blended learning approach. Students will love practising their math and English skills with these free games. In Prodigy Math, they’ll go on adventures, collect pets and earn rewards; in Prodigy English, they'll gather supplies, gain energy and create their personal village — all while answering curriculum-aligned questions tailored to their individual skill levels. Sign up nowStudent feedbackIn order to know which teaching strategies will be the most effective, ask your students to provide you with some feedback: What do they like? How do they think they learn best? What do they want to learn more about? Students are more likely to be engaged in the learning process when they have a voice. There are a couple of ways to gather feedback:
Professional developmentIn order to be an effective teacher, you need to have access to resources that allow you to continuously grow your skills. According to a study with teachers from eight different countries, teachers who had access to professional development were more likely to effectively use different teaching strategies in their classrooms: “This suggests that the exchanging of ideas and experience about teaching with other teachers in the school, observing each other’s classrooms and providing mutual support increases the likelihood of implementing good teaching strategies.” After gathering all this amazing information from student feedback and professional development efforts, you’re going to need somewhere to keep track of it all. Consider keeping a teaching journal to track student progress, new insights, areas you think your class might need extra help in and successes you’ve had. Build it up as a reference for that year’s class, and keep it as a reminder of everything you’ve accomplished. Bonus: you’ll have a ready-made resource for writing stellar report card comments. ParentsParent involvement in student learning is a key indicator of student success and performance. Keep parents informed with a quick paper or email newsletter every month, and let them know about new things happening in the classroom. Communicate individual issues quickly and effectively to avoid any report card surprises, but don’t just mention the problems -- make time to give praise or share news of an achievement. There are so many different types of teaching strategies available for your classroom that the options can be overwhelming. But that’s good news! Your teaching style, students and classroom are all unique — why shouldn’t your teaching strategies be too? Start small, and work your way up. Don’t be afraid to try new strategies and see what works best in your classroom. Not everything’s going to be a good fit, and that’s OK -- keep engaging with your students and you’ll build up lifelong learners with a passion for knowledge. Create or log in to your teacher account on Prodigy – a free, curriculum-aligned game-based learning platform for math and English that’s easy to use for educators and students alike. Create your free account! |