What Really Makes a Difference in Classroom Instruction?

What classroom strategies really make a difference? Robert Marzano answered that question in his classic book Classroom Instruction That Works. Marzano discusses nine instructional strategies that make the most difference in student achievement. Do you know what they are?

If you have not read the book, you can get the "Cliff Notes" version by clicking here.

This post is intended not only to bring to your attention this 2001 work, but to introduce you to a 2007 book which builds upon Marzano's work.

Using Technology With Classroom Instruction That Works takes the nine strategies used in the original work and provides practical ways for teachers to implement them using technology. The author of this later work, Howard Pitler, is a former principal of a technology magnet high school. A little more than a decade ago when I first became involved with an internet discussion group for school administrators, Howard was one who regularly posted, and did so in a manner that was always thoughtful and helpful.

I bought a copy of Using Technology With Classroom Instruction That Works, and like every other book in my office, I am glad to loan it to anyone interested in reading it. The only thing I ask is that I eventually get it back.

How Do I Use PowerPoint to Teach?

Anyone who has ever heard Patrick Crispen will tell you the practicality of his message makes your time with him well spent. He is also extremely gracious in not only allowing, but encouraging, other people to download his PowerPoints and use them.

Click here to download "How Do I Use PowerPoint to Teach."

This PowerPoint gives a wealth of direction on what to put in (and not put in) a good PowerPoint presentation. "Good" is defined as one that helps students remember what you are trying to get them to remember.

The presentation also goes into how to help students take notes effectively. (No, it's not the same-old-same-old you heard when you were in school. Trust me on this one.) It even shows how to take your notes from the PowerPoint slides and transform them into notes you can (edit and then) give to the students. No, it's not that type of handout you are thinking about where you see a little screen shot of each slide and have the blank lines you can write in. This is totally different and far better.

From our meeting with elementary principals and reading coaches the other day, they can tell you that according to Robert Marzano, summarizing and note taking is #2 on the list of nine essential classroom strategies that research shows really makes a difference, so this is pretty timely.

What's #1? What are the other eight? Glad you asked.