As we strive to become a world-class school, we constantly seek out and implement teaching strategies that have been proven effective. One of the improvement strategies we are beginning to implement in the Senior School is Rosenshine's Principles of Instruction, developed by educational psychologist Barak Rosenshine. These principles are grounded in extensive research and have shown to significantly enhance student learning. Here’s a brief overview of these principles and how they are being applied in our classrooms:
- Daily Review: Each lesson begins with a review of previously learned material. This helps reinforce prior knowledge, making it easier for students to connect new information with what they already know. For example, teachers might start the day with a quick quiz or a recap of the previous day’s lesson.
- Present New Material in Small Steps: Instead of overwhelming students with too much information at once, new content is broken down into manageable chunks. This ensures that students can grasp each concept before moving on to the next. In practice, this means teachers might introduce a new topic, provide examples, and check for understanding before proceeding.
- Ask Questions: Teachers frequently ask questions to check for understanding and keep students engaged. These questions help teachers gauge how well students are grasping the material and identify areas that need further clarification. In our classrooms, you’ll often see teachers posing questions throughout the lesson, encouraging students to think critically and participate actively.
- Provide Models: Demonstrating how to solve a problem or complete a task gives students a clear example to follow. This can involve showing a step-by-step process or working through an example problem. By providing models, teachers help students understand how to approach and solve similar problems on their own.
- Guide Student Practice: After presenting new material, teachers guide students as they practise the new skills. This guidance helps ensure that students are applying the concepts correctly and allows for immediate feedback. In our classrooms, this might look like teachers circulating the room, offering support, and correcting mistakes in real-time.
- Check for Understanding: Regularly checking for understanding helps ensure that students are on the right track. This can involve asking questions, having students explain concepts in their own words, or completing short exercises. These checks help teachers identify and address misunderstandings promptly.
- Obtain a High Success Rate: Ensuring that students experience a high rate of success during learning activities is crucial. This builds confidence and encourages continued effort. Teachers aim for students to achieve an 80% success rate before moving on to new material, balancing challenge with achievable success.
- Provide Scaffolds for Difficult Tasks: For more challenging tasks, teachers provide temporary support structures to help students succeed. These scaffolds can include hints, prompts, or step-by-step instructions. As students become more competent, these supports are gradually removed, fostering independence.
- Independent Practice: Once students have mastered the material with guidance, they engage in independent practice. This helps solidify their learning and transfer skills to new situations. Homework assignments or independent classroom activities often serve this purpose.
- Weekly and Monthly Reviews: Regular reviews help reinforce learning and ensure that students retain what they have learned over time. These reviews can take the form of quizzes, discussions, or cumulative projects. By revisiting material regularly, students can build a stronger, more durable understanding of the content.
By incorporating these principles into our teaching practices, we aim to create a supportive and effective learning environment for all students. We believe that with these strategies, we can help every child succeed and reach their full potential.
