The Cycle of Effective Instruction

The Cycle of Effective Instruction is based upon STAD, Student Teams Achievement Divisions, a cooperative-learning process defi ned by Robert Slavin in his book Using Student Team Learning. The arrows indicate that this is a cycle; reteaching or extra practice can be planned to meet student needs. All parts of the cycle may be present during the course of one day’s lesson, or the cycle may be developed over the course of several days.

Active Instruction
Every lesson cycle begins with Active Instruction, during which the teacher teaches, models, and guides
student practice of the targeted objective.

• Teach and model the skill or strategy.
  • Introduce the goal and the targeted skill or strategy.
  • Facilitate a short review of previous, prerequisite learning.
  • Give an active demonstration using Think Alouds, visual aids, manipulatives, and examples.
  • Guide practice to:
    • provide support during student practice.
    • offer targeted feedback, recognizing effective skill use and offering suggestions to correct
      ineffective skill use.

Teamwork
During Teamwork, students work with partners or teammates to master the skill. Teamwork practice gradually transitions into independent practice and peer assessment to prepare students for their individual assessment of the targeted skill or strategy.

• Prompt skill or strategy use.
  • Prompt the application of the skill.
• Reinforce and provide feedback to guide skill or strategy use.
  • Offer targeted feedback, recognizing effective skill use and offering suggestions to correct
    ineffective skill use.
  • Monitor independent practice and peer assessment.

Assessment
During the Assessment phase, each student is individually assessed to make sure that he or she has mastered the skill or strategy. Assessment consists of both informal and formal measures: observations, written tests, timed oral reading, etc.

• Monitor and assess skill or strategy use with informal and formal measures.
  • Record observations with a rubric or monitoring form.
  • Determine when the students are ready to be individually assessed.
  • Evaluate each student’s skill or strategy use with an individual assessment.
  • Record observations and scores on the PowerTeaching: Mathematics Team Score Sheet, monitoring forms, and assessment summaries.\

Celebration
During Celebration, teams are recognized as a group for their success.

• Recognize and celebrate successful skill or strategy use.
  • Provide targeted feedback, along with cheers of praise for accomplishments.
  • Award team members Super Team, Great Team, and Good Team certifi cates.