Strategic Instruction Model
SIM
About SIM
Content Enhancement Routines (CER's)
All of the routines promote direct, explicit instruction. This type of instruction helps students who are struggling, but it also facilitates problem-solving and critical-thinking skills for students who are doing well in class.
How can I help my students study?
Course Organizer
About the Course Organizer
This device is an overarching view, or map, of the entire course, either semester or year-long. At the beginning of the year, teachers go over this device with students. All students get a copy and are asked to reference it frequently. This provides students a roadmap of what they have studied and what they will study next, thus helping to make connections between the units of study.
In co-creating the Course Organizer, the teacher follows a specific set of steps to ensure that all content is covered.
Cue course questions
Outline critical concepts and units
Uncover community principles
Reveal learning rituals
Share performance options
Explain course standards
Unit Organizer
About the Unit Organizer
This device provides students information on the meat of what they will learn and do within that unit of study. Again, teachers go over this device with students, who are asked to reference it frequently. This is a great study guide and many teachers email them out to parents. If you aren’t receiving them via email, please make sure that your child’s teacher has your correct email address. Also, you may request a paper copy be sent home with your child.
In co-creating the Unit Organizer, the teacher follows a specific set of steps to ensure that all content is covered. It usually takes several days to cover all of the material.
Create a context- this allows students to see how information in this unit is connected to previous and future learning.
Recognize content structures- here, information is presented to help students see how information in the unit is organized.
Acknowledge unit relationships- students are asked to look for and identify possible relationships that might be important in understanding the information.
Frame unit questions- the teacher leads students to co-create questions about the important relationships in the unit and the important information.
Tie content to tasks- the Unit schedule of lessons, activities, quizzes, projects, and tests is shared with the students so they know what to expect.
FRAME
About the FRAME
The Frame is a way to organize important information about a particular topic being taught. It really helps the students break down the topic and understand it better. Also, it’s a great reference and study tool! Students keep these in their interactive notebooks or binders. You can always request that a copy by sent home so that you can help your student study!
In presenting the Frame, the teacher follows a specific set of steps to ensure that all content is covered.
Focus on the topic- the teacher provides the students with the name of the key topic and a short explanation of the topic.
Reveal the main ideas- the teacher introduces each main idea related to the topic.
Analyze the details- specific details for each main idea are revealed and discussed.
Make a “so what” statement- this is where the students get to address the question, so what is important to understand about this topic? Here, teachers try to get students to see the importance of the topic and how it can be used to understand or solve a real-world problem.
Extend understanding- the teacher facilitates an activity where the students are given the opportunity to explore the topic further and expand their understanding of it.