Classroom+Instruction+That+Works

=**__Classroom Instruction that Works!__**=

As an educator there are many things that I can do to improve my instructional practice that will impact student achievement...

For starters, I can incorporate movement into my daily lessons. By having students stand up, move around, and become physically active sometime during the class period, I can force more blood to flow to the brain. Studies have found that more blood flow equates to a brain more apt for learning. In addition, movement throughout the period breaks up the lesson for students giving their minds a chance to rest and to process the learning that has taken place thus far.

I can pay closer attention to making sure I teach lessons based on the idea of multiple intelligences. It is easy to get into a routine and get used to some things becoming effortless. Teaching lessons that cover the multiple intelligences causes you to pay attention to the needs of all of your students and to start looking at them in terms of individuals and not as a whole. This way, you are sure to reach the needs of every student. This will not only improve your instructional practice but it will enhance the learning of all your students.

It is also essential to discover the essence of your students, not just on a cognitive level, but also in terms of their personalities. I have found that students respond exceptionally well to teachers who treat them as unique individuals, instead of grouping them all in together as one homogeneous group. Once you understand a student's likes, dislikes, interests, and pet peeves, you are able to integrate those components into your classroom methods and create unique examples for your curriculum. The more personalized you make your instruction, the more applicable it is in the lives of your students, which will help comprehension and retention of knowledge and skills.

I can stop working so hard by doing so much for my students. I can establish routines and procedures that allow students to take more responsibility for their learning. I can have high expectations and give students the opportunity to meet those expectations.