1. Six Tips to Inspire Instruction
based on the book, The Core Six Essential Strategies for Achieving Excellence

2. Capture Students’ Interest
Begin lessons with a
A hook is a question or activity that provokes student thinking & prior knowledge and gets students interested.
Capture students’ interest. Both common sense and research tells us that students learn when they are engaged. Begin lessons with a hook. A hook is a question or activity that provokes student thinking and prior knowledge. A well-designed hook will establish a strong sense of intrigue or curiosity.
Example: Mystery. On paper, the US Civil War was a mismatch. So why did it last for more than four years? Generate some ideas.

3. Explain strategy’s purpose & students’ roles in strategy.
tell students the name of the strategy, explain how it works and why it is important.
Tell them about each step and explain what they are to do at each step.
Refer to anchor charts
Explain the strategy’s purpose and students’ roles in the strategy.
Strategic thinking does not come naturally. When you teach or use a strategy, take time to tell students its name and explain how it works and why it is important. Tell them about each step and explain what they are to do at each step. It would be good to have anchor charts around the room for students to refer to.

4. Teach Thinking
For example, collecting and evaluating evidence is a crucial thinking skill in several different strategies.
To teach this skill, discuss the concept of evidence.
What is evidence?
When and how is it used?
What’s the difference in an argument that uses evidence and one that doesn’t?
To teach this skill, discuss the concept of evidence. What is evidence? When and how is it used? What’s the difference in an argument that uses evidence and one that doesn’t? Model what good evidence sounds like using good claims like “Taking care of a pet is harder than taking care of a plant.” Whenever students make a claim during a lesson, use it as an opportunity to explore the evidence behind the claim.

5. Use discussion & questioning techniques to make students think
Ask a question.
Wait for an answer (there may be silence for a while).
Help students tell how they came up with their idea or thought.
Accept every response. Don’t affirm or correct students until everyone has a chance to answer.
Clarify- students restate the idea or concept in their own words.
Elaborate-Try asking, “What if?” or present a counter argument
Ask a question. Wait for an answer (there may be silence for a while). Help students tell how they came up with their idea or thought. Accept every response. Don’t affirm or correct students until everyone has a chance to answer. Clarify- have students restate the idea or concept in their own words. Elaborate-work with students to take their ideas further. Try asking, “What if?” or present a counter argument and ask students to respond to it. Encourage students to draw conclusions and make generalizations.

6. Synthesize and Transfer learning.
Challenge students to pull together what they have learned and transfer that learning to new context.
Challenge students to pull together what they have learned and transfer that learning to new context.
For example, after completing a Circle of Knowledge discussion in which 5th grade students debate a local issue, you might present three more debatable issues for student to discuss in teams, what they have learned about civil debate and compromise to resolve each issue.

7. Remember to Reflect Have student reflect.
“ Let’s think back on our use of . . .
How did the . . help you ?
What might you do differently next time?
Leave time for reflection- Students need time to think back not only on the content but also on the process.
For example, you might say, “Let’s think back on our use of 3X3 Writing Frames. How did the 3X3 Writing Frame help you plan you essay? What might you do differently next time?