Teaching Strategies

Students discuss prior knowledge and ideas before reading, then read or analyze with a purpose, and discuss with a partner to deepen understanding before writing to synthesize their learning. It integrates speaking, reading, and writing to strengthen comprehension and critical thinking.

Students start by clearly stating a historical claim, then provide two pieces of evidence that support their argument. Students explain how each piece of evidence connects to their claim using logical reasoning. This strategy promotes responsible argumentation by guiding students to support claims with evidence and explain their reasoning through respectful academic dialogue.

Students practice perspective-taking in structured, small‑group conversations modeled after a café setting.

Involves breaking down a text into smaller, more manageable sections. This helps students focus on specific details and build comprehension by distinguishing essential and non-essential information.

A discussion technique in which students share ideas or respond to prompts in rotating pairs. It promotes active engagement, listening, and repeated practice as learners refine their thinking through multiple brief conversations.

Students use a standardized note-taking strategy to deconstruct arguments from historical and contemporary sources. They practice reasoned argumentation and introduce their own voices into historical conversations.

Students deepen their understanding of any topic with step-by-step support to craft the introduction, argument, and conclusion of a compelling speech.

Students use a standardized note-taking strategy to deconstruct arguments from historical and contemporary sources. They practice reasoned argumentation and introduce their own voices into historical conversations.

Students compare textual and visual sources on one topic. They consider differences in presentation based on media type and the opinions of the person who created them.

Students examine the time period, key events, and social conditions surrounding a political cartoon or artwork to better understand its message. By connecting the image to its historical moment, students uncover deeper meaning and intent.

A collaborative reading strategy that breaks a longer text or text set into smaller sections. Students first work in “expert groups” to closely read and understand one assigned section, then move into mixed “home groups” where each member teaches their portion of the text. Through this process, students rely on one another’s expertise to construct a full understanding of the text while practicing teamwork, summarizing, and academic discussion.

Students listen by paraphrasing and reflecting on a peer’s ideas before responding. This strategy reinforces listening as a critical learning skill and promotes deeper understanding, respectful dialogue, and more meaningful academic conversations.