Instructional Minute

- Work Time Defined

- Teach like a Champion: Techniques to Implement

• Brighten Lines
  
• Silent Solo
  

Work Time provides students time to dig in and practice the current learning target. This is the most important part of the workshop and therefore time spent should be adjusted to developmentally appropriate grade-levels (PreK-3rd: 15-30mins, 4th-12th: 30-45mins). This gives students the bulk of the lesson time to work, practice, or apply what has been taught during Direct Instruction.

In order to have a successful Work Time and grant students the power of independence, there has to be strong procedures and routines in place. Procedures and routines allow for:

• Students to have optimal use of time to work, practice and apply grade-level content
• Lead to effective norm setting with clear expectations and follow through
  
• Help students (and teachers) focus by freeing up executive function space, keeping minds on content over chaos
• The teacher to circulate and/or pull small groups to remediate or extend the learning

For systems to work, you need procedures (Academic, Procedural, and/or cultural). Those procedures turn into routines (habits) after being explicitly taught, practiced consistently and correctly demonstrated by all students. Below are a couple examples of how you could bring procedures into your classroom.

Brighten Lines is a procedural system to help students shift from one activity to another on a cue. This is the sharpening of the cues you are giving your students at the start and end of each activity so they are visible and crisp through intentional verbal/nonverbal cues that motivate and leave little room for misinterpretation.

For teachers, Brighten Lines enables:

• Effective pacing
• Strong transitions
• Building the student habit of classroom expectations
• Student motivation through clear understanding of cues

For students, Brighten Lines helps them:

• Increased focus and motivation during worktime
• Perceive milestones clearly
• Build their capacity for sustained, focused attention

Silent Solo is an academic system in which students write steadily and thoughtfully, putting pen to paper, and working independently for a defined amount of time.

For teachers, Silent Solo enables:

• More accurate Checking for Understanding
• Deeper discussions
• Building the student habit of regularly revising and improving their ideas.
• Support students who are struggling and challenge students who are ready for more

For students, Silent Solo helps them:

• Practice important thinking tasks
• Develop ideas with depth
• Build their capacity for sustained, focused attention

https://www.wiley.com/WileyCDA/Section/id-832525.html

• Chapter 6: Brighten the lines
• Chapter 8: Silent Solo

We would love to feature them in the Instructional Minute.

Email them to: michelle.lake@lansingschools.net

In addition to the photo, please be sure include your name, school and grade level.

Find here a page of professional development links to take a deeper dive in what classroom management could look like in your classroom.

ELA - Math - Science - Social Studies - Career and Technology In Education - Physical Education Standards - Visual and Performing Arts - World Language Standards