October 2024

Hello everyone,

Welcome to our October edition! We’re excited to continue building on our shared commitment to strengthening evaluation practices and supporting the growth of our educators. Last month, we explored the importance of collecting robust evidence for Indicator 2.2: Learning Experiences, and we introduced strategies for capturing student engagement in meaningful ways. We highlighted a summarizing strategy called Three Facts and a Fib, designed to help students process content through reflective thinking and peer discussions, ultimately deepening their understanding.

For observers, we encouraged looking for activities where students were actively engaging in summarizing exercises, reflection activities, or peer discussions that solidify comprehension.

For teachers, we shared the Three Facts and a Fib strategy, designed to help students process content through a fun and interactive format. If you’ve tried this strategy in your classrooms, we hope it sparked insightful conversations and brought a fresh perspective to your observations.

This month, we’re continuing our focus on Indicator 2.2 with an emphasis on Making Students’ Thinking Visible (MSTV). MSTV is about “creating a robust talk environment for all students where they are both challenged and enabled to think deeply, frequently, and critically, and to interact with one another while developing a deeper understanding of the concepts we are teaching” (Saphier, 2018, p. 255).

Thank you for your continued dedication and commitment to enhancing our collective impact. Together, let’s continue to empower educators and inspire student success!

This month, we are excited to highlight seven exceptional principals for our Excellence in Action feature. We celebrate their commitment to continuous professional growth and dedication to honing their observation and feedback skills. Each of these leaders said “Yes!” to engaging in Learning Walks throughout the school year, demonstrating their unwavering commitment to fostering a culture of learning and excellence in their schools.

If you would like to nominate an educator to be recognized in the Excellence in Action section, please email Angela Socorso.

Making Students Thinking Visible:

Consolidating and Anchoring Learning by Summarizing

@RBTeach

According to Dr. Jon Saphier from Research for Better Teaching, there are two principles of learning that underscore the importance of summarizing at the conclusion of a learning experience: Sequence and Say-Do. 

Sequence:

Closure for Students by the TEACHER

Learning is structured so that key points are emphasized at the beginning and end of the lesson, where students are more likely to retain them. Important ideas should be introduced early, revisited throughout, and reinforced at the end through summarization. This structure increases retention and ensures students grasp the essential concepts.

Teacher Actions:

Start the Lesson with Purpose: Clearly state the lesson objective at the beginning, so students know what they will be learning and why it matters.

Use Strategic Transitions: Guide students through the lesson in a logical order, connecting new content to what was previously taught.

Implement Effective Closure: Protect the last few minutes of the lesson for summarizing. Have students revisit the objective through brief reflections, summarizing key points, or sharing what they learned to reinforce retention.

Say-Do:

Closure for Students by the STUDENT

After learning a concept, students should immediately apply it through activities like summarizing, problem-solving, or discussions to deepen their understanding. The Say-Do principle emphasizes active learning, where students transition from passive absorption (reading, hearing, or seeing) to reconstructive learning (saying and doing), significantly increasing retention.

Effect on Retention

10% Read it

20% Hear it

30% See it

50% Hear & See

70% Read or Hear or See & Say it

90% Read or Hear or See & Say & Say & Do

Teacher Tip:

Engage students immediately after introducing new content by having them discuss, solve problems, or explain in their own words.

This month, we’re focusing on helping evaluators capture evidence of Making Student Thinking Visible and supporting Indicator 2.2: Learning Experiences. When observing, look for:

Clear Objectives: Teachers should clearly state the lesson goals at the start, ensuring students understand the purpose.

Active Participation: Students should be applying, discussing, or demonstrating understanding through structured discussions, partner talks, or visual organizers.

Logical Flow: Lessons should build logically, connecting segments.

Purposeful Closure: Observe if students summarize key ideas, justify responses, or engage in peer feedback to solidify understanding.

Upcoming DPAS for Admin. Support Workshops

We’re here to help you every step of the way! Sessions are virtual and designed as workshops to get much of your preparation completed before you leave.

Who these sessions are for:

Get workshop dates, times, and locations. For more information, contact Brandie Foxx.

The History of Making Student Thinking Visible

Sequence: Principle of Learning Video

24 Operating Principles – Instructional Strategies from RBT

Join monthly DTGSS office hours.  Contact Angela Socorso for more information.

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