During the September Early Release, the teachers at Oakwood High School participated in a training which focused on Robert Marzano's essential strategies that increase student achievement.
As outlined in the book Classroom Instruction that Works, Marzano's research on the effect of the use of these strategies reflects a correlation with increased student achievement.
Growth from research is shown below for each strategy used:
Brandi Miller and MaryJo Martucci presented the first three strategies during the workshop.
Identifying Similarities and Differences. The ability to break a concept into its similar and dissimilar characteristics allows students to understand complex problems by analyzing them in a more simple way.
Applications may include the use of Venn Diagrams or charts to compare and classify items. Students are engaged in comparing, classifying, and generating metaphors and analogies.
- Summarizing and Note Taking. These skills promote greater comprehension by asking students to analyze a subject to identify what is essential and then put it in their own words. According to research this requires substituting, deleting, keeping some things and having an awareness of the basic structure of the information presented.
- Applications include providing a set of rules for creating a summary. When summarizing, ask students to question what is unclear and then predict what will happen next in text.
- Reinforcing Effort and Providing Recognition. Effort and recognition speak to the attitudes and beliefs of students. Teachers must show the connection between the effort and achievement.
- Applications may include sharing stories about people who succeeded by not giving up. Have students keep a log of their weekly efforts and achievements and reflect on it periodically.
Before leaving for the day the teachers at Oakwood High School reviewed their lesson plans and worked on adding one of the strategies that they would try with their students in their classrooms.
Submitted by Tracy Gutierrez
