C1       Making learning goals and instructional procedures clear to students

·        I have my students restate the objectives in their own words.

C2       Making content comprehensible to students

·        I have students use a variety of graphic organizers (Venn Diagrams, T-Charts, Story Maps, Event Chain, etc.) to help them understand new material.(See links below for student work samples and sample materials)

C3            Encouraging students to extend their thinking

·        I use a number of activities and materials to challenge my students to explore new theories about and approaches to World Studies.

·        We have used what weve studied to look at current events (and vice versa).

C4            Monitoring students understanding of content through a variety of means, providing feedback to students to assist learning, and adjusting learning activities as the situation demands

·        I use closure responses (Journals, cartoons, Questions of the Day etc.) to assess whether students understood the preceding lesson.

·        I welcome questions from students before, during, and after a lesson is presented.

·         I make an effort to call on each student to check for understanding.  If a student is "stuck", I use a variety of means -from rephrasing the question to probing questions to more thinking time-to encourage them to share their conclusions.

·         I frequently encourage students to use visual presentations to express their understanding of the content.

·          I aske students to rephrase directions and information in their own words.

·         During seatwork, I review each student's work in progress as frequently as needed.

·        I give students written and verbal feedback on each assignment or activity.

·         I have students attempt to finish incomplete work and reattempt failed assignments in order to experience success and clarify particular areas of need.

·         I modify assignments (differentiate) whenever appropriate. (See links below for sample materials)

C5       Using instructional time effectively

·        I make very effective use of the 45 minute class period. With the majority of assignments given as class work it is critical to maximize learning time.  Although a variety of class business matters are dealt with, the majority of each class is devoted to instruction. I would like to continue using the Teach Timer to help monitor time.

·        The biggest challenge to using instructional time wisely has been on the two occasions that my students worked in the media center. The Media Specialist has a very particular, highly structured and time-intensive way that he likes students to conduct their research. I now know that I need to plan an additional day into projects in order to accomodate this.