Fundamental Instructional Practices

As we continue to learn more about "what works" and "what doesn't work" in the field of education, one question continues to surface....."What makes a fundamental instructional practice 'fundamental'?" Our district is currently investigating Instructional Rounds , a network approach to  improving teaching and learning. 

Before, during, and after each monthly session (since August), our goal has been to learn as much as we can about what "our beliefs" are as they relate to best practices (fundamental instructional practices). As we journey together to learn more about "rounds", we research, discuss, plan, collaborate, engage each other in conversations about fundamental practices, and then go even more deeply during each subsequent session ......all before we plan to embark on our very first "rounds" (not slated to begin until January).

During our most recent session, we decided to charge each other with scanning our district classrooms for pieces of evidence that relate to practices such as an opening set, providing directions, questioning, lesson tasks, assessments, and closing sets. A resource that was shared with us and provides over 1200 strategies and their definitions is hyperlinked for you to visit. I found it to be a great resource as I began informal visits around the district.

I hope you find this information valuable, and if anyone has additional sites that could serve to provide resources for helping us develop our answer to "What makes a fundamental instructional practice 'fundamental'?", please share!