I vividly remember being a new teacher in the early to mid 2000’s, and hearing educators use the term “best practices” wondering what in the world they were talking about. I had a dynamic undergraduate experience, a rewarding student-teaching opportunity, and was teaching with talented and dedicated educators. As a new, young teacher, I didn’t ask anyone what was meant by the term “best practices.” I cannot tell you how long it took me to figure it out, but thankfully I did. As a regional literacy coach, I’ve learned there are still many teachers befuddled by the term “best practices.” When I discuss with others what it means, many are relieved to know they are already “doing” best practices! That’s the truth of it too - many teachers are already implementing best instructional practices without knowing how to articulate it.
Simply put, best practices refers to the most effective and evidence-based methods and strategies used in teaching and learning. These practices are grounded in research and have been shown to facilitate student understanding, engagement, and achievement. The concept of best practices emphasizes the importance of integrating teaching and learning approaches that are proven to be successful in the classroom.
What are instructional best practices?
Best instructional practices can vary across subjects, grade levels, and learning environments, but generally, share some common principles.
Explicit Instruction with Clear Objectives and Goals: When mapping out a unit, get crystal clear about the skills you are teaching. When you are clear about what you are teaching, you are better able to choose the appropriate sequence of skills and the strategies you will teach to model the skills. This clarity will help you decide exactly what student mastery looks like, which will help you decide on future instruction for individual students and the whole group. Clearly communicating learning objectives and goals to students ensures they understand what is expected of them and why the material is important. This requires an intentional focus on not just the teaching, but also the learning you are monitoring in students’ work.
Modeling: When we model as part of explicit instruction, we are demonstrating a skill, process, or way of thinking to help students understand and replicate the desired outcome. Modeling for students provides a clear and concrete example for students to observe, helps students grasp the steps and thought processes involved in solving problems or completing assignments, boosts students' confidence in their ability to tackle a task independently, and modeling helps bridge the gap between theory and practice.
Differentiation as Scaffolding and Enriching: Differentiation refers to how we tailor instruction to meet the diverse needs of students. It involves recognizing and accommodating the different background knowledge and learning abilities of all students. When we scaffold learning as a best practice, we are providing support and structure to help students gradually build their understanding and skills, moving from simple to more complex tasks. When we enrich learning as a best practice, we are providing additional learning opportunities and challenges for students who have already mastered the standard content. Both scaffolding and enrichment are important practices in the classroom in order to keep all learners moving forward.
Collaboration for Engagement: Collaboration in teaching and learning is considered a best practice for several reasons, as it brings numerous benefits to both teachers and students. When we teach students how to collaborate and provide them opportunities to collaborate with peers, they are better able to share their ideas, discuss their thinking to clarify and articulate their learning, and learn the diverse perspectives of their peers. When students work together, they can learn from each other, share ideas, and develop critical thinking and communication skills.
1:1 Feedback or Conferring: When we provide timely, constructive, and actionable feedback to students, we are helping them understand their progress, identify areas for improvement, and guide future learning. Conferring as a type of formative assessment, provides you with the opportunity to individualize instruction, set goals with students, provide students with steps to achieve their goals, helps develop student-teacher relationships, and supports the efficacy of the student as a learner in your classroom.
Formative Assessment with Self-Assessment Tools: Formative assessments provide immediate feedback to both teachers and students. This timely feedback allows for adjustments in teaching strategies and helps students understand their strengths and areas for improvement while the material is still fresh in their minds. Formative assessments enable you to monitor student progress continuously. By regularly checking understanding, you can identify learning gaps early and address them before they become more significant issues. The feedback from formative assessments guides teachers in adapting instructional methods to better meet the needs of their students. This responsive teaching approach helps ensure that instruction is effective and aligned with student learning needs. The integration of self-assessment tools, such as checklists and models, empower students to take an active role in their learning and contribute to their overall development. Self-assessment tools promote student ownership, metacognition, goal setting, and motivation.
Real-World Connections: Relevance and real-world connections increase student engagement and provide a context for learning, which can help students understand how concepts and skills are applied in authentic situations. Relevance and real-world connections in the classroom is a best practice because it enhances student engagement, understanding, and application of knowledge. It prepares students for future success by equipping them with skills and knowledge that are meaningful and applicable in the real world.
Progress Monitoring: Progress monitoring as a best practice, involves systematically and regularly assessing students' academic progress to inform instructional decisions. Progress monitoring is a best practice in the classroom because it supports data-informed instruction, early intervention, individualized learning, and goal setting.
Technology Integration: When used intentionally and effectively, technology can enhance teaching and learning experiences, prepare students for the digital age, and support individual learning goals. Technology integration is a best practice in the classroom because it enhances engagement, supports differentiated instruction, and fosters a learning environment that prepares students for the future.
How can teachers ensure they are implementing best practices in the classroom?
Ensuring the implementation of best instructional practices that lead to student achievement and growth requires an intentional approach, especially as our resources are constantly changing.
Keep abreast of current educational research, trends, and best practices in teaching. Attend professional development opportunities, conferences, and workshops to stay informed about new and effective instructional strategies.
Engage in professional learning communities or collaborative groups with colleagues. Share experiences, discuss teaching strategies, and learn from each other's successes and challenges.
Create a positive and inclusive classroom environment where students feel safe, supported, and encouraged to take risks in their learning.
Encourage students to provide feedback on the learning experience. What did they find helpful? What challenges did they face? This feedback can offer valuable insights for adjusting your instructional approach.
Regularly reflect on your own teaching practices. Consider what is working well, what could be improved, and how you can refine your instructional strategies to better meet the needs of your students.
Best instructional practices are not a one-size-fits-all and evolve over time as educational research advances. Effective teachers tailor instructional practices based on the unique needs of their students, the subject they are teaching, and the experiences they have over time in the classroom. Effective teaching is a dynamic and evolving process. It involves a commitment to continuous improvement and a willingness to adapt to the changing needs of your students and the educational landscape. Regular self-reflection and a growth mindset are essential components of successfully integrating the best instructional practices for the students we teach.
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