Best Practices in Instruction

As we reflect on where we are at this point in the year, I found that the tips below are not only are these good reminders on how to best meet the needs of our student learners -  but they also affirm the work we do at Houlton every day!  

Thank you for all that you do.

After you read through this, please respond with any comments or suggestions you have to support continued improvement in student learning at Houlton: Houlton Student Learning Feedback

5 Tips on How to Improve Student Achievement

by Dianne McKinley | Sep 4, 2017

Improving student achievement is one of the main goals of all teachers. Student achievement measures the academic content a student learns over a period of time. Test scores are commonly used to measure student achievement. However, if you want a more holistic perspective, a student’s character, skills, and ability to solve real-world problems should also be taken into consideration.   

1. Raise the Quality of Instruction

This is a deciding factor in improving student achievement. Teachers influence the quality of instruction by setting expectations for learning and measuring the level of understanding. A teacher should think of ways how to make learning more engaging.

Use real-life experiences, background knowledge, stories, prior learning, or videos to catch students’ interest and support the learning process. If instruction is presented in such a way that is boring, disconnected, or not easy to understand, it may be hard for students to meet the desired level of achievement. 

2. Support Teachers’ Continual Professional Learning

Student achievement is highly dependent on the quality of instruction. That is why developing the knowledge and skills of teachers through professional development is important. Teachers should be familiar with the components of great instruction, while school administrators must provide leadership, feedback, and support needed for teachers to improve their practices.

3. Use Data

Using data is an important step in improving student achievement. But, it’s not enough to just read the data. You have to do something with it. Identify strengths and devise strategies how to improve on weaknesses. Focus on “why” students are not achieving and what schools can do to support their learning without excuses.

Knowing the status of each student will guide teachers on how to differentiate instruction. Students don’t learn the same way or at the same rate. Understanding the individual needs and background of students will help a lot to increase learning.

4. Increase Rigor

Rigor refers to instruction, school work, or learning experiences that are intellectually stimulating and complex. Rigor allows students to learn more deeply. Many teachers believe that they have rigorous assignments, but in reality, they do not. Teachers often confuse difficulty with complexity.

While rigor is usually associated with difficulty, it’s important to note that lessons should be challenging and stimulating (complex), not difficult. There’s a difference between memorization and strategic reasoning. Increasing rigor both in instruction and assignments is a powerful combination that can improve student achievement.

5. Promote a Positive School Climate

A positive school climate can help boost academic achievement and outcomes for students. In promoting a positive school climate, schools allow greater equality in educational opportunities. Schools that combine academics with positive school climate tend to perform better over the long term.

When administrators and teachers collaborate to achieve a positive school climate, the whole school community will reap the benefits of an environment that is happier, safer, and more conducive to learning.

Conclusion

There are many factors that can impact student achievement. Teachers and school administrators should leave no stone unturned and explore all possible ways to increase learning, making sure that students reach their full potential.

Blog: How to raise student achievement