Rosenshine's Principles in Action

1. Daily review strengthens learning and improves recall

Daily review can strengthen previous learning and can lead to fluent recall.

Reinforce previous learning. Daily review is a crucial component of effective instruction. It helps students strengthen connections between concepts, leading to automatic recall of important information. This practice is especially vital for foundational skills like reading sight words, math facts, and chemical equations.

Optimize working memory. By reviewing relevant concepts at the start of each lesson, teachers help students activate prior knowledge. This process frees up working memory, allowing students to focus on new material without struggling to recall prerequisite information. Effective daily review might include:

• Correcting homework and addressing common errors
• Practicing skills that need to become automatic
• Reviewing vocabulary or formulas relevant to the upcoming lesson
• Asking students to explain concepts from previous lessons

2. Present new material in small, manageable steps

Only present small amounts of new material at any time, and then assist students as they practise this material.

Respect cognitive limitations. Our working memory can only process a limited amount of information at once. Effective teachers recognize this constraint and present new material in small, digestible chunks. This approach prevents cognitive overload and allows students to focus on mastering each step before moving on to the next.

Structure lessons strategically. When introducing new concepts:

• Break complex tasks into smaller, sequential steps
• Provide clear explanations and multiple examples for each step
• Check for understanding before progressing to the next step
• Allocate sufficient time for presentation and guided practice
• Use concrete examples to illustrate abstract concepts

For instance, when teaching paragraph summarization, a teacher might first model identifying the topic, then guide practice on finding main ideas, and finally teach students to recognize supporting details – all before combining these skills into a complete summarization strategy.

3. Ask questions to engage students and check understanding

Questions help students practise new information and connect new material to their prior learning.

Foster active participation. Effective questioning is a powerful tool for engaging students and promoting deeper understanding. By asking a high frequency of questions, teachers can:

• Help students practice retrieving and applying new information
• Connect new material to prior knowledge
• Identify areas that need clarification or re-teaching
• Encourage critical thinking and problem-solving skills

Implement varied questioning techniques. To involve all students and maximize the benefits of questioning:

• Use a mix of factual and process questions
• Employ strategies like think-pair-share or choral responses
• Utilize response cards or hand signals for quick checks
• Ask students to explain their reasoning or thought processes
• Use prompts like "who," "what," "why," and "how" to stimulate deeper thinking

Remember, the goal is not just to assess knowledge, but to use questions as a tool for learning and cognitive development.

4. Provide models and worked examples to guide problem-solving

Providing students with models and worked examples can help students learn to solve problems faster.

Demonstrate expert thinking. Modeling and worked examples offer crucial cognitive support for students learning new skills or problem-solving strategies. By thinking aloud and demonstrating step-by-step processes, teachers make their expert knowledge explicit and accessible to novice learners.

Reduce cognitive load. Worked examples are particularly effective because they:

• Allow students to focus on specific problem-solving steps
• Reduce the cognitive load on working memory
• Provide a reference for students to compare their own work
• Can be gradually faded to promote independence

Effective use of models and worked examples:

• Start with fully worked-out problems
• Progress to partially completed problems
• Eventually, have students solve problems independently
• Use across subjects: math, science, writing, and reading comprehension

For instance, in teaching essay writing, a teacher might first model writing each paragraph, then work collaboratively with students on several essays, before having students write independently under supervision.

5. Guide student practice to ensure mastery before independence

Successful teachers spent more time guiding the students' practice of new material.

Facilitate deep processing. Guided practice is essential for helping students store new information in long-term memory. It provides opportunities for students to rephrase, elaborate, and summarize new material, enhancing their understanding and retention.

Provide immediate feedback. During guided practice, teachers can:

• Correct errors before they become ingrained
• Clarify misunderstandings
• Provide additional examples or explanations as needed
• Ensure all students are processing the material correctly

Effective guided practice strategies:

• Work through initial problems on the board, explaining each step
• Have students demonstrate solutions and discuss their approaches
• Ask probing questions to check understanding
• Gradually reduce support as students gain confidence and competence

Remember, the goal is to prepare students for successful independent practice. Rushing through guided practice often leads to confusion and errors during seatwork or homework.

6. Check for student understanding frequently to prevent misconceptions

Checking for student understanding at each point can help students learn the material with fewer errors.

Prevent misconceptions. Regular checks for understanding allow teachers to identify and address errors or misconceptions before they become deeply ingrained. This is particularly important when introducing new or complex concepts where students may make logical but incorrect assumptions based on incomplete knowledge.

Adjust instruction in real-time. Effective methods for checking understanding include:

• Asking students to summarize key points
• Having students explain concepts to each other
• Using whole-class response systems (e.g., whiteboards, hand signals)
• Asking students to apply knowledge to new situations
• Encouraging students to ask questions

Avoid relying on vague questions like "Does everyone understand?" Instead, use specific, targeted questions that require students to demonstrate their comprehension. This approach not only informs the teacher but also helps students identify gaps in their own understanding.

7. Aim for a high success rate to boost confidence and achievement

It is important for students to achieve a high success rate during classroom instruction.

Balance challenge and success. Research suggests that an optimal success rate for student achievement is around 80%. This level indicates that students are learning the material while still being appropriately challenged. A high success rate during guided practice leads to better performance during independent work.

Prevent practicing errors. Achieving a high success rate is crucial because:

• It builds student confidence
• It reinforces correct procedures and understanding
• It prevents students from practicing and ingraining errors

Strategies for maintaining a high success rate:

• Teach in small steps with frequent checks for understanding
• Provide sufficient guided practice before independent work
• Adjust the pace of instruction based on student performance
• Use formative assessment to identify areas needing re-teaching
• Implement mastery learning techniques for foundational skills

Remember, if students are consistently struggling during practice, it's a sign that the material needs to be re-taught or broken down into smaller steps.

8. Use scaffolds to support students in difficult tasks

The teacher provides students with temporary supports and scaffolds to assist them when they learn difficult tasks.

Facilitate cognitive apprenticeship. Scaffolding is a form of guided practice where teachers provide temporary supports to help students tackle challenging tasks. These supports are gradually withdrawn as learners become more competent, promoting independence while ensuring success.

Implement various scaffolding techniques:

• Thinking aloud: Model expert thought processes
• Prompts and cue cards: Provide reminders of steps or strategies
• Checklists: Help students self-evaluate their work
• Partially completed examples: Allow students to focus on specific aspects of a task
• Visual aids: Offer graphic organizers or diagrams to structure information

Examples of effective scaffolds:

• In reading comprehension: Provide question stems (who, what, why, how) to guide student-generated questions
• In essay writing: Offer a structured outline or paragraph frames
• In problem-solving: Warn students about common errors and discuss prevention strategies

The goal of scaffolding is to bridge the gap between what students can do independently and what they can achieve with guidance, ultimately leading to mastery and self-regulation.

9. Balance guided and independent practice for optimal learning

Independent practice is the ultimate goal for teaching: to construct learning so that students are able to do challenging things by themselves without help.

Foster independence gradually. The transition from guided to independent practice is a crucial phase in the learning process. Effective teachers carefully manage this transition to ensure students are well-prepared for autonomous work.

Implement a structured approach:

1. Teacher explanation and modeling
2. Guided practice with high levels of teacher support
3. Gradual reduction of scaffolding
4. Independent practice with teacher monitoring
5. Fluency development through repeated practice

Key considerations for independent practice:

• Ensure students have demonstrated success during guided practice
• Provide clear instructions and success criteria
• Make independent work similar to guided practice tasks
• Monitor initial independent attempts closely
• Offer support when needed, but encourage self-reliance
• Provide opportunities for students to check and correct their own work

Remember, premature independent practice can lead to frustration and the reinforcement of errors. The goal is for students to practice correctly and build confidence in their abilities.

10. Implement effective questioning strategies to deepen understanding

Ask students to explain what they have learned.

Promote active processing. Effective questioning goes beyond simple recall, encouraging students to articulate their understanding, make connections, and apply knowledge to new situations. This process helps solidify learning and reveals areas that need further clarification.

Employ diverse questioning techniques:

• Cold calling: Randomly select students to answer, ensuring all are prepared to participate
• No opt-out: If a student can't answer, come back to them after the correct answer is given
• Think-pair-share: Allow students to discuss answers before sharing with the class
• Whole-class response: Use whiteboards or hand signals for quick checks of understanding
• Probing questions: Ask follow-up questions to deepen explanations

Effective question types:

• Comparison questions: "How does X compare to Y?"
• Cause and effect questions: "What would happen if...?"
• Evaluation questions: "What evidence supports this claim?"
• Application questions: "How could we use this concept to solve...?"
• Metacognitive questions: "How did you arrive at that answer?"

By implementing these questioning strategies, teachers can create a dynamic, interactive learning environment that promotes deeper understanding and critical thinking skills.

Last updated: March 11, 2025