INTASC Principle #8 - Instructional Strategies

The teacher understands and uses a variety of instructional strategies to encourage learners to develop deep understanding of content areas and their connections, and to build skills to apply knowledge in meaningful ways.

Every student learns differently. For this reason, every lesson plan needs to include a variety of instructional strategies. My lessons always include a mixture of student lead and teacher lead learning activities. When appropriate, I encourage my students to learn through a constructivist approach, discovering meaning through inquiry and self-direceted research. In addition, I require my students to work in various cooperative groupings (partners, small groups, large groups, whole group). When necessary, I model assignments and new learning methods through teacher think-alouds and direct instruction.