Teaching Tips

John Hattie introduced the concept of effect size to measure the impact of various influences on student learning. An effect size of 0.4 is considered to be the "hinge point" for significant impact.

Reciprocal Teaching Effect Size: 0.74

What it is: An instructional strategy where students take on the role of the teacher in small group reading or problem-solving discussions. It’s grounded in dialogue and collaboration, and is especially effective for developing comprehension skills.

Why it works: Students become co-teachers, which deepens understanding and peer accountability.

Try This:

• Predictor – Makes predictions about what the text (or problem) will be about or what might come next.
• Questioner – Asks questions about the content to check for understanding.
• Clarifier – Identifies confusing parts and tries to clarify meaning (e.g., unknown vocabulary, tricky sentences).
• Summarizer – Recaps the main ideas or steps in the learning.

Example Strategy: Model one round of Reciprocal Teaching with a think-aloud, then release to students with sentence starters for each role.

Effect Size: 0.48 (Formative Evaluation)

Why it works: These quick tools engage students in reflecting on their learning and give you real-time insight.

Try This:

• Ask a question like: “What’s one thing you’re still unsure about?” or “What helped you learn today?”

• Use sticky notes, Google Forms, or whiteboards.

Tip: Use trends in responses to adjust your next lesson or clarify misconceptions.

Questions about strategies in this newsletter? Contact:

Tonya Swavely

Staff Development Facilitator

Email: swavelyt@cliu.org

Carbon Lehigh IU 21