Instructional Strategies

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Instructional Strategies are the activities that are embedded into a lesson.

Goal: ​By the end of this lesson, students will understand multiple instructional strategies they
could use in their own lesson planning.

Your task: ​Work your way through the alphabet and come up with 26 instructional strategies
that you find intriguing. Each student will find one letter A, one letter B, one letter C, etc.
http://www.beesburg.com/edtools/glossary.html

Recommendation: ​One student starts at the beginning of the alphabet and one student starts
at the end of the alphabet.

Example:

Instructional Strategy:​ Cross Age Tutoring

Description: Picture:
Older students act as tutors to younger
students. Often carried out in the form of a
"buddy" program where all the fourth graders
in a school may have a first grade "reading
buddy" with whom they work.

I would use this…

I would use this for older students to role model appropriate behaviors for younger students.
Also older students would benefit from learning how to break down tasks and learn patience.

Letter A:

Instructional Strategy:​ Action Projects

Description: ​A project where ideas learned Picture:

through research are tested and applied in a
real world situation.
I would use this…​ I would like to use this for younger students because it can open their
eyes to how fun something educational can be rather than working on paperwork.

Instructional Strategy:​ Affinity

Description: ​A brainstorming approach that Picture:

encourages less verbal members of a group
to participate. First, all members of the group
write responses to the problem or question on
separate cards, then the cards are silently
grouped by each member while the others
observe. After a discussion, the agreed upon
arrangement is recorded as an outline or
diagram.

I would use this… ​ I would use this in all ages because any age group can have issues with
speaking up in class. I think this is a very good scenario because it still keeps all of the kids
involved without having to be called on to talk.

Letter B:
Instructional Strategy:​ Biopoems

Description: ​Poems written by students Picture:

about any specific person or object.
(Character in book, living or inanimate
objects) To summarize student knowledge of
a topic.

I would use this… ​I would use this because it lets the kids have a variety of options of things
they can choose from, poems also let the kids express their words in a beautiful way.

Instructional Strategy:​ Bulletin Boards

Description: ​Boards or wall space where Picture:

information or materials can be posted to
inform, excite, guide, or motivate students.

I would use this… ​I would use this in all ages because glancing up at a motivational quote
every now and then can help them boost their confidence.

Letter C:
Instructional Strategy:​ Categorization

Description: ​Thinking skill that allows Picture:

students to sort objects or concepts into
categories according to a variety of criteria.

I would use this… ​I would use this because it is good for the kids to feel organized when
they are doing their work.

Instructional Strategy:​ Character Education

Description: ​Activities designed to develop Picture:

character, compassion, ethics, and
responsibility in youth.

I would use this… ​because this is a very good strategy to help them grow into tthe person
that they want to be.

Letter D:
Instructional Strategy:​ Days

Description: ​Special days during the school Picture:

year when all activities center around a
theme.

I would use this… ​I would definitely use this with younger students because it is a more fun
and hands on activity for them to learn with.

Instructional Strategy:​ Debriefing

Description: ​A form of reflection immediately Picture:

following an activity.

I would use this… ​I like this strategy because it is easier for people to remember things right
after it occured.

Letter E:

Instructional Strategy:​ Evaluating

Description: ​A critical thinking skill involving Picture:

judging to place a value on ideas or work.
I would use this… ​I would use this when working with any age because it is always good for
students to be able to come up with their own thoughts about something we are learning.

Instructional Strategy:

Description: Picture:

I would use this…

Letter F:

Instructional Strategy:​ Films

Description: ​Motion pictures can be used to Picture:

enhance learning of literature, language, or
historical events.

I would use this… ​I would use this with any age group because it is a fun visual way to learn
about a topic in class.
Instructional Strategy:

Description: Picture:

I would use this…

Letter G:

Instructional Strategy:​ Grab Bag

Description: ​Near the conclusion of a Picture:

lesson, have a student draw an object from a
bag. The students must explain or illustrate
how the object is related to what they have
learned.

I would use this… ​I would use this in a younger age of students because it is hands on and it
is good for them to reflect on what they have just learned.

Instructional Strategy:

Description: Picture:

I would use this…

Letter H:

Instructional Strategy:​ Humor

Description: ​Humor can be helpful in Picture:
motivating students and in creating a
community spirit.

I would use this… ​I would use this in any age group because it is always good to lift the
students spirits while they are doing classwork and having them laugh.

Instructional Strategy:

Description: Picture:

I would use this…

Letter I:

Instructional Strategy: ​Ice Breakers

Description: ​Activities designed to help Picture:

people get acquainted in new situations or
environments.

I would use this… ​I would use this in any age group because even as an older student who
isn’t new to school, you can always be nervous about something. And this helps students
open up and make friends in classes.
Instructional Strategy:

Description: Picture:

I would use this…

Letter J:

Instructional Strategy:​ Judging

Description: ​A form of critical thinking that Picture:

involves forming opinions about a topic.

I would use this… ​I would use this in any age group because everyone is entitled to their
opinion about a subject and it is good for the students to hear other people's views about
things.

Instructional Strategy:

Description: Picture:

I would use this…

Letter K:

Instructional Strategy:​ KWHL

Description: ​“Know, Want to know, How to Picture:

find out, Learn.”
I would use this… ​I would use this because it is a good set of steps to learning about a topic
in class.

Instructional Strategy:

Description: Picture:

I would use this…

Letter L:

Instructional Strategy:​ Learning Stations

Description: ​Individual stations where Picture:

individual or paired students explore
resources. Designed to extend knowledge
introduced in whole group instruction.

I would use this… ​I would use this in younger groups because it is good for them to get up
and walk around during the school day, it is also a good way for them to communicate with
their peers about the stations.

Instructional Strategy:

Description: Picture:

I would use this…

Letter M:

Instructional Strategy:​ Mentors

Description: ​Teachers and individuals from Picture:

the community can act as mentors.

I would use this… ​This is a very good strategy because having more people with different
ways of teaching is very helpful because a student might not understand how their regular
teacher is describing something.

Instructional Strategy:

Description: Picture:

I would use this…

Letter N:
Instructional Strategy:​ Novelty

Description: ​A motivational technique to Picture:

engage student early in instruction. Share
something unusual with students to arouse
curiosity.

I would use this… ​I think I would use this with younger students because it gives their brain
a chance to explore imagination and creativity.

Instructional Strategy:

Description: Picture:

I would use this…

Letter O:

Instructional Strategy:​ Open Text Recitation

Description: ​A form of recitation in which Picture:

students use their books, notes, or other texts
to support their answers.

I would use this… ​I would use this in any age group because it is good for them to be able to
use what they have learned in the past.

Instructional Strategy:

Description: Picture:

I would use this…

Letter P:

Instructional Strategy:​ Painting

Description: ​While typically restricted to Picture:

elementary classes or to art classes at the
higher levels, painting can be used in a wide
variety of classes to encourage creative
thinking and problem solving. At all levels,
planning and executing a painting involves
the integration of many skills and promotes
the development of higher order thinking.

I would use this… ​Of course, as an art teacher I would use this. But even if I was a
kindergarten teacher, I would use this because it is a fun hands on way of learning.

Instructional Strategy:

Description: Picture:

I would use this…

Letter Q:

Instructional Strategy:​ Quickwrite

Description: ​Pair activity in which students Picture:
have a short period ( typically 30 seconds ) to
share all they know by writing in a graphic
organizer.

I would use this… ​I would use this in younger grades but I would give them more time to
complete it, I would use this because it is a good way for them to summarize and reflect.

Instructional Strategy:

Description: Picture:

I would use this…

Letter R:

Instructional Strategy:​ Reader’s Theater

Description: ​Students adapt some of their Picture:

reading to present to other students in the
form of a play. These productions can be
simple or elaborate and include posters,
programs, sets, and costumes.

I would use this… ​I would use this in younger groups because it is a easier and fun way for
them to learn about a story rather than doing a read aloud.
Instructional Strategy:

Description: Picture:

I would use this…

Letter S:

Instructional Strategy:​ Show and Tell

Description: ​Students bring in personal Picture:

objects to share with the class.

I would use this… ​I would use this because it is a good way for the students to connect
through something personal.

Instructional Strategy:

Description: Picture:

I would use this…

Letter T:

Instructional Strategy:​ Ticket to Leave

Description: ​Closing activity where students Picture:

respond in writing or verbally to summarize
an assignment
I would use this… ​I would use this in any age group because it is a way for them to show
that they were paying attention and taking notes during a lesson.

Instructional Strategy:

Description: Picture:

I would use this…

Letter U:

Instructional Strategy:

Description: Picture:

I would use this…

Instructional Strategy:​ Using

Description: ​Using objects or concepts to Picture:

show skills or valuing.
I would use this… ​I would use this in any age especially as an art teacher because it can be
hands on and interesting for the students.

Letter V:

Instructional Strategy:​ Volunteer

Description: ​Students as volunteers at a Picture:

hospital, day care center, the zoo, etc.

I would use this… ​I would use this mainly in older grades because it is safer for them rather
than younger children. I would also use this because it can help them open their eyes to
something they love to do.

Instructional Strategy:

Description: Picture:

I would use this…

Letter W:

Instructional Strategy:​ Writing

Description: ​Many varieties, including Picture:

creative writing, exposition, etc.

I would use this… ​I would use this in any age group because it is a good way for them to
express themselves.

Instructional Strategy:

Description: Picture:

I would use this…

Letter X:

Instructional Strategy:​ X Marks the Spot

Description: ​Reading strategy in chich Picture:

students flag passages as important,
interesting, or something they have a
question about using X, !, or ?.
I would use this… ​I would use this in any age group because it is a way for me to see what
they like or something they have a question about.

Instructional Strategy:

Description: Picture:

I would use this…

Letter Y:

Instructional Strategy:​ Yes, No, Maybe, So.

Description: ​Yes, No, Maybe, So. Picture:

I would use this… ​I would use this strategy because it is a way for the students to be able
answer questions or even ask questions and make remarks about something we are learning.

Instructional Strategy:

Description: Picture:

I would use this…

Letter Z:
Instructional Strategy:​ Zoo

Description: ​Activities centered on local Picture:

zoos. Might include trips, design activities, or
webquests.

I would use this… ​I would use this in younger groups because it is a fun way for them to
learn about animals and the environments they live in.

Instructional Strategy:

Description: Picture:

I would use this…