Instructional Strategies: A teacher must understand and use a

variety of instructional strategies to encourage student

development of critical thinking, problem solving, and
performance skills.
When planning, and teaching lessons I try to incorporate
various means of instructional strategies. I model completing
tasks in the first step of the gradual release of responsibility. After
I model as task I have the students practice it with help and then
complete it on their own. When creating lessons or classroom
activities I like to switch it up from me giving the lesson to
classroom discussion, group projects and collaborative learning. I
think it is more beneficial for students to lead their learning than
it is for me to talk at them. When they take control, they become
more engaged. With activities, I let my students struggle, by
providing them with a challenge, so that they can learn problem
solving skills and think critically. When asking questions, I ask
deep thinking questions, rather than quick questions so students
can think critically. Instruction should be both engaging and
challenging, but also at the students level.
In my student teaching experience, I would have students
lead a lesson by incorporating partner talk. I would often use the
Kagan Strategies, such as, Think-Pair-Share. This strategy allows
all students to have a voice in the classroom, by sharing with a
partner. After they share with a partner I can call on them to share
with the class because they have had the chance to practice and
think through their thoughts.