Great teaching is not about one method. It is a set of habits that help students understand, remember and use what they learn. These twelve practices are drawn from widely used research summaries, such as Barak Rosenshine’s Principles of Instruction, and from classroom experience.
Planning
- Share clear learning objectives: students should know what they will learn and why.
- Start with a quick review: a few questions on previous lessons strengthen memory.
- Present new material in small steps with practice after each step.
Instruction
- Model and use worked examples: show how an expert solves the problem.
- Ask many questions and ask all students, not only volunteers (use mini-whiteboards or cold calling kindly).
- Check for understanding before moving on.
- Guide practice, then gradually move to independent practice.
- Use visuals alongside explanation. See using visual aids.
Feedback and Review
- Give specific, timely feedback that tells students what to do next.
- Schedule weekly and monthly reviews to keep knowledge fresh.
Classroom Culture
- Build routines so less time is lost to transitions. See classroom management ideas.
- Build relationships: greet students, learn names quickly and show you care about their progress.
Look After Yourself
Teaching is demanding. Share resources with colleagues, set boundaries on marking time, and reflect on one improvement at a time instead of trying to change everything at once.
See also: active learning strategies.
