The Fundamental Five
The Formula for Quality Instruction
With changing accountability comes the need for a change in thinking:
- “...doing nothing overtly wrong is no longer good enough. The requirement now is that teachers and schools have to do a number of things significantly right just to keep up with the ever-rising accountability bar.”
Five fundamental pedagogical elements that set the stage for quality instruction-every lesson, every day.
“When used correctly, the Fundamental Five form the building blocks for creating a solid foundation for value-added instruction.”
The Five Elements
Working in the Power Zone
Frequent, Small Group Purposeful Talk about the Learning
Recognize and Reinforce
Writing Critically
Framing the Lesson
Allows students to know what to focus on for those who don’t have working content related mental filters.
Content Objective - I will (TEKS) by (academic task).
Language Objective - I will (ELPS: S,L,R,W) using (specific words, phrases, stems).
Working in the Power Zone
"If one is going to expend considerable time and energy to plan a lesson; if one is going to expend considerable time and energy to teach the lesson; if one is going to expend considerable time and energy to assess the lesson; and, ultimately, if one is evaluated on the effectiveness of the lesson; why wouldn't one position oneself in the location that will produce the best results?"
"A teacher occupying the power zone is simply teaching or monitoring in close proximity to... students." They are "in the fray" and can respond to minute changes in student performance and/or behavior."
...when a teacher engages in this practice, every other instructional practice that he or she brings to bear is enhanced and made more powerful."
"When a teacher conducts their practice in the power zone, a number of significant changes occur in the classroom dynamic. On-task behaviors increase, discipline issues decrease, and student retention of the content increases."