The Art of Teaching #1: Rosenshine

Here at English With Mr. Jack we use teaching methods that are based on cognitive science and that have been tried and tested in the classroom.

At the foundation of our pedagogy are Rosenshine's Principles of Instruction. These principles are not about fancy tricks or esoteric practices, but recognise, quite simply, that learning is about remembering something and being able to use it. It's easy to teach something and for a student to remember it for a few minutes, or even for a day or two, but ultimately what we want is for what we teach to be embedded in a student's long term memory and for them to be able to use what they have learned for the rest of their lives.

Here at English With Jack we emphasize effective presentation of new material, consistent student engagement, and regular assessment to ensure deep understanding.

Rosenshine's Principles of Instruction

Barak Rosenshine is an educational researcher who has studied the practices of effective teachers for over 40 years. He has identified a set of principles of instruction that are consistently shown to improve student learning. These principles are based on research in cognitive science, classroom practices, and cognitive supports.

Rosenshine's principles of instruction are:

1. Begin with a review of previous learning. This helps students to connect new information to what they already know and makes it easier for them to learn.

2. Present new material in small steps with student practice. This helps students to break down complex information into manageable chunks and makes it more likely that they will understand and remember it.

3. Ask a large number of questions and check the responses of all students. This helps teachers to identify students who are struggling and to provide them with the support they need.

4. Provide models and worked examples. This shows students how to solve problems or complete tasks and gives them a clear target to work towards.

5. Guide student practice. This helps students to stay on track and to avoid making mistakes.

6. Check for student understanding frequently and correct errors. This helps teachers to ensure that all students are learning the material and to provide them with the feedback they need to improve.

7. Obtain a high success rate. This means that most students should be able to answer questions correctly and complete tasks successfully.

8. Provide scaffolds for difficult tasks. This helps students to break down complex tasks into manageable steps and to make progress even when they are struggling.

9. Provide independent practice. This gives students the opportunity to apply what they have learned and to solidify their understanding.

10. Conduct weekly and monthly reviews. This helps students to retain information and to make connections between different concepts.

In addition to the principles above, Rosenshine also emphasizes the importance of:

• Clarity: Teachers should be clear and concise in their explanations and instructions.

• Engagement: Teachers should use a variety of instructional strategies to engage students in their learning.

• Organization: Teachers should be well-organized and have a clear plan for their lessons.

• Feedback: Teachers should provide students with regular and specific feedback on their work.

By following Rosenshine's principles of instruction and emphasizing the importance of clarity, engagement, organization, and feedback, teachers can create learning environments where all students can succeed. At English With Mr. Jack, we incorporate these principles into everything we do, to ensure maximum success for our learners.