Your instructional focus and your method of instruction are paramount to robust instruction but the text you use to anchor and deepen students’ understanding, and the types of discussions students engage in while learning, are equally important. Accordingly, your shifts towards robust instruction may include changes to your task, text, or talk.
Task: Rigorous, engaging, and culturally relevant instruction does not happen by accident. It requires careful consideration of your students’ learning needs, a deep knowledge of your content, and creative instructional designs.
Text: An essential element of developing engaged learners is finding the right texts for them to read. Do your text choices match your students’ interests and experiences?
Talk: What type of discussions are happening in your classroom? An important aspect of active learning is discussion. Ideally, students have opportunities to engage with partners and small groups, as well as in whole group discussions through out a school day. Are there new ways your students could engage with one another more to have a deeper understanding of what they are learning? Remember that active discussions spark critical thinking.
