As we discussed yesterday, schools across the country are entering into Testing Season.  Every teacher wants his or her students to be successful on the big test, whether it is a national test, state test, district test or teacher made final. That is a given.  And here is your best strategy to turn this want into a reality.  Starting today, and everyday until the test, do the following:

1. Tell your students what you are going to teach them during the lesson, in student-friendly, concrete language.  This primes the brain to be receptive to what you are going to teach them.

2. Embed at least one small group purposeful talk activity into the lesson.  This allows the student to begin to process, clarify, comprehend and connect the concept you are teaching.

3. Embed a quick critical writing activity into every lesson.  This allows the student to solidify and think deeper about the concept you are teaching.

4. Reinforce the effort students are putting forth as they talk, write and work. Recognize improved and exemplar thinking and performance.

5. Close the lesson.  This creates an information chunk that the brain can efficiently process, store, recall and connect.

These practices represent the highest yield of the high yield instructional practices.  Use them and you students will perform better.  Choose (and it is your choice) not to use them, and you are a critical limiting factor on your students’ performance.  Choose wisely.

Think. Work. Achieve. Your turn…

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