BetterLesson Instructional Strategies

BetterLesson Instructional Strategies provide ready-to-use resources and step-by-step guidance to help education professionals grow in their practice.

Classroom Culture and Design

Develop a collaborative classroom culture in which all students feel safe, respected, and empowered to drive their own learning
Learn More
Learn more about
Classroom Culture and Design
Browse Strategies
By defining student roles in group work, the teacher can support each student to be successful and support a steady work pace for each group
Utilizing student input to develop shared work time expectations is key to successful learning task management
Students rate how well they embody class values every day in order to reflect and grow
Browse Strategies

Formative Assessment and Feedback

Provide students with multiple opportunities to demonstrate their understanding, track their progress, and guide their future learning
Learn More
Learn more about
Formative Assessment and Feedback
Browse Strategies
Microgrouping to Provide Feedback supports students to receive targeted feedback specific to their learning needs
Provide students with clear criteria to self-assess effectively
This strategy supports students to create a plan for remediating their missed mastery objectives and work towards re-taking the assessment
Browse Strategies

Student Ownership and Agency

Build opportunities and systems that empower students to take ownership and agency over their learning process
Learn More
Learn more about
Student Ownership and Agency
Browse Strategies
Choice boards give students autonomy and choice in their learning while allowing teachers to differentiate, observe, and assess in real time
By defining student roles in group work, the teacher can support each student to be successful and support a steady work pace for each group
Engage students in kinesthetic learning opportunities where they see, think, and wonder as they circulate the room
Browse Strategies

Meeting the Needs of All Learners

Support students' diverse strengths and needs so they can grow and thrive in their learning environments
Learn More
Learn more about
Meeting the Needs of All Learners
Browse Strategies
Plan and support student discussions about mathematical ideas, representations, content, and strategies
Choice boards give students autonomy and choice in their learning while allowing teachers to differentiate, observe, and assess in real time
Genius Hour supports students to choose learning experiences based on personal interests while targeting skills like critical thinking
Browse Strategies

Social-Emotional Learning

Prepare students with the self-awareness, relational, and decision-making skills needed to succeed in school and in life
Learn More
Learn more about
Social-Emotional Learning
Browse Strategies
Teach students to talk about themselves and their work using a growth mindset
Have a conversation with a student to collaboratively identify solutions to prevent challenging behavior
Students use self-regulation strategies like mental breaks, body and movement breaks, fidgets, and self-talk to maximize their learning
Browse Strategies

Culturally Responsive Teaching and Learning

Ensure students from all cultures and perspectives have full and equitable access to learning
Learn More
Learn more about
Culturally Responsive Teaching and Learning
Browse Strategies
Being culturally responsive involves learning about your own perceptions of students & then creating equitable learning experiences for them
Effective classroom management creates a welcoming learning environment that supports all learners, even when they experience challenges
In order to enjoy truly collaborative learning communities, students need identify blind spots and develop proactive responses to bias
Browse Strategies

Blended Classroom Design

Leverage technology tools and strategies in the classroom to support personalized pathways for learning
Learn More
Learn more about
Blended Classroom Design
Browse Strategies
Taking intentional steps to launch new digital solutions in your classroom will lead to effective implementation for student success
Students receive timely, personalized, and actionable feedback as teachers utilize digital assessment tools
Clear goals, strong modeling, and ample opportunity for reflection turn fun games into highly effective learning tools
Browse Strategies

Mastery-Based Progressions

Create personalized learning paths that allow students to progress toward goals and demonstrate mastery in flexible formats
Learn More
Learn more about
Mastery-Based Progressions
Browse Strategies
In a self-paced or mastery based learning environment, building a mastery map and a network of student experts can help
A pre-assessment is the foundation of a Mastery-Based Progression as it allows students and teacher to focus on what is most needed
A Mastery-Based Progression unleashes students to work at their own pace so creating and monitoring a simple pacing calendar can help
Browse Strategies

Project-Based Learning

Engage students in real-world, inquiry-based tasks to develop deep content knowledge, critical thinking, and communication skills
Learn More
Learn more about
Project-Based Learning
Browse Strategies
Driving questions initiate and focus the inquiry and learning throughout a project while creating an interest and challenge for students
Starting a unit or project with the end goal in mind helps teachers to authentically integrate all content and plan the steps to achieve the
Student contracts is a student-centered approach to setting expectations for collaboration and contribution during group work
Browse Strategies

Curriculum Implementation

Implement a new curriculum strategically to support rigorous student-centered learning
Learn More
Learn more about
Curriculum Implementation
Browse Strategies
Explore these templates to begin the process of differentiated planning in your classroom
Students need an inclusive curriculum in order to enjoy a full learning experience
Identifying and celebrating strengths equips students to effectively adopt a growth mindset and set learning goals
Browse Strategies

Student-Centered Math

Create engaging mathematics classrooms where students discuss frequently, problem-solve creatively, and think critically
Learn More
Learn more about
Student-Centered Math
Browse Strategies
Use Anticipate, Monitor, Select, Sequence, and Connect to plan, organize, and facilitate productive mathematical discussions
Fill in the gaps supports students to review assessment data and set goals for improvement over two days in which they work to fill the gaps
2,4,6,8 Collaborative Problem-Solving supports students to engage in independent and collaborative thinking to effectively problem solve
Browse Strategies

Student-Centered Literacy

Develop students' literacy skills by supporting student ownership of evidence-based reading, writing, speaking, and listening
Learn More
Learn more about
Student-Centered Literacy
Browse Strategies
Students need explicit norms, processes, and models to participate in productive classroom talk
Engage students in kinesthetic learning opportunities where they see, think, and wonder as they circulate the room
Deepen student comprehension asking students to teach what they have learned to their peers
Browse Strategies

Leading Through Change

Lead the improvement of teaching, learning, and overall school climate to enhance student achievement and success
Learn More
Learn more about
Leading Through Change
Browse Strategies
Transform student data into educator action
Setting group work values first leads to more productive and satisfying meetings
Do more by collaboratively sharing the guidance and direction of a school
Browse Strategies

Instructional Coaching

Provide teachers with personalized coaching cycles that support them to grow and develop their teaching practice
Learn More
Learn more about
Instructional Coaching
Browse Strategies
Coaching observations focus on using objective classroom data to identify the impact of a teacher's actions on student learning
Change teaching and learning one step at a time using the BetterLesson coaching model
To improve our coaching practice we must reflect and develop next steps
Browse Strategies

Collaborative Professional Learning

Develop a collaborative professional culture to support student-centered teaching and learning
Learn More
Learn more about
Collaborative Professional Learning
Browse Strategies
Change teaching and learning one step at a time using the BetterLesson coaching model
In the months leading up to a coaching year, so many details can be planned ahead of time for a successful launch into coaching
Regular analysis of student work puts the spotlight on what's actually happening in a school's teaching and learning
Browse Strategies

Open Up Resources 6-8 Math

Strategically implement Open Up Resources 6-8 Math curriculum to create engaging, student-centered mathematics classrooms
Learn More
Learn more about
Open Up Resources 6-8 Math
Browse Strategies
Use Anticipate, Monitor, Select, Sequence, and Connect to plan, organize, and facilitate productive mathematical discussions
Several quick structured discussion opportunities help students revise and refine their ideas, making them stronger and clearer each time
Increase opportunities to hear students' voices, support them to demonstrate learning, and receive feedback
Browse Strategies

EL Education K-8 Language Arts

Strategically implement EL Education K-8 Language Arts curriculum to create engaging, student-centered ELA classrooms
Learn More
Learn more about
EL Education K-8 Language Arts
Browse Strategies
Utilizing student input to develop shared work time expectations is key to successful learning task management
Explore these templates to begin the process of differentiated planning in your classroom
Use the Final Word protocol to help students understand the value of multiple ideas to support the meaning and understanding of text
Browse Strategies

Newsela Learning Domain

Supercharge reading engagement across content areas using Newsela tools
Learn More
Learn more about
Newsela Learning Domain
Browse Strategies
A Gallery Walk heightens engagement by allowing students to move around the room, engage in discussion, and have choice in their learning
Each student becomes an expert on an article then teaches the group so that the group can draw connections based on what they have learned
Explicit, individualized feedback allows students to more effectively develop central ideas and support them with text evidence
Browse Strategies

Culturally Responsive Teaching and Learning: Master Teacher Project

Ensure students from all cultures and perspectives have full and equitable access to learning
Learn More
Learn more about
Culturally Responsive Teaching and Learning: Master Teacher Project
Browse Strategies
Teachers should reflect on how their decisions and discretion impact students' views of themselves and others
Shared classroom values are a first step toward understanding what students value and need to feel safe in your classroom
Strategically plan to ensure all students have equal access to advanced courses
Browse Strategies

Distance Learning

Deliver rigorous, student-centered distance learning
Learn More
Learn more about
Distance Learning
Browse Strategies
Students receive timely, personalized, and actionable feedback as teachers utilize digital assessment tools
Creating a backchannel and empowering students to own it requires careful planning but helps to build a student-centered classroom culture
Teacher-created learning videos support students to work at their own pace, with personalized embedded supports and checks for understanding
Browse Strategies