Lecture Notes: Explicit Instruction 101

Introduction

• Welcome by Gina Fulton.
• Focus on explicit instruction: what it is, its importance, and its foundations.
• Six-session series aimed at understanding explicit instruction.

Objectives

• Explore and understand the foundations of explicit instruction.
• Gain knowledge of its elements and underlying principles.
• Examine evidence supporting explicit instruction.
• Address common concerns and myths.
• Implement a summary case study to showcase effective practice.

Key Concepts

Definition and Importance

• Explicit Instruction: Direct, unambiguous instruction with the goal of clarity and student understanding.
• Important for novices and struggling students to gain knowledge and skills.
• Involves a continuum from explicit teaching to independent discovery after foundational skills are acquired.

Design and Delivery

• Instruction is designed to be organized and teachable.
• Uses demonstration, guided practice, and independent practice (I do, We do, You do).
• Emphasizes interactive engagement and monitoring with feedback.

Active Participation

• Encourages note-taking and active involvement.
• Use of choral responses and oral reading as engagement strategies.
• Importance of interactive and perky-paced lessons.

Research and Data

Importance of Explicit Instruction

• Address learning gaps exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Importance of leaders understanding and supporting explicit instruction in classrooms.

National Trends

• Analysis of national reading and math scores (2020-2022) showing declines.
• Emphasis on the need for explicit instruction to address these declines.

Foundational Elements and Principles

Foundational Elements (1-16)

• Encourage reflection on which elements are present in current teaching practices.

Underlying Principles

• Optimize engagement and success levels.
• Increase content coverage and usage of instructional groups.
• Use scaffolding to support learning.

Misconceptions and Evidence

• Clarification of explicit vs. direct instruction.
• Evidence supporting explicit instruction's effectiveness in various contexts.
• John Hattie's Research: Highlights effect sizes indicating the impact of explicit instruction.

Practical Application

Classroom Implementation

• Explicit instruction is crucial for new learners, novices, and struggling learners.
• Emphasizes the importance of feedback and group instruction.

Case Study Summary

• Example of effective implementation and transformed teaching through explicit instruction.

Conclusion

• Call to action for educators to adopt explicit instruction to close learning gaps.

Next Steps

• Information on future webinars and sessions to deepen understanding and application of explicit instruction principles.

Additional Resources

• Recommended readings and research sources for further exploration.
• Contact info for further inquiries and support.

• Note: These notes summarize a lecture on explicit instruction, emphasizing the importance, foundations, and practical implementation for educators.