Benchmark – Best First Instruction

Best First Instruction

Dayna Branson EDU 588: Curriculum and Instruction Capstone Dr. Toni Walker May 1, 2024

Start

~ "Literary Bingo" ~

15:00

Next

Find someone who...

Instructions: 1) Distribute a bingo card and a marker to each participant. 2) Explain the rules of the game: Participants will mingle around the room, engaging with their colleagues to find someone who matches each prompt on their bingo card. When they find a match, they should write the person's name in the corresponding square. 3) Encourage participants to have conversations with their colleagues about the prompts as they fill in their bingo cards. This will foster connections and provide opportunities for sharing insights and experiences related to literacy instruction. 4) The first participant to fill their entire bingo card (either horizontally, vertically, or diagonally) shouts "BINGO!" and shares a brief reflection on their experiences during the activity. Wins FREE COFFEE!

Most Effective Literacy strategy you have implemented in your classroom

What is the biggest challenge you face when teaching literacy?

Favorite book as a child

A most memorable moment in your teaching career related to literacy instruction.

Favorite literacy-related professional development resource

Innovative Technology Tool for Literacy Instruction

Favorite Read-Aloud Book for the Classroom

Effective Differentiation Strategy for Diverse Learners

Preferred Genre for Personal Reading

Back

data

Needs Assessment Survey

During our Needs Assessment Survey, we identified four areas of need, one of which is literacy instruction. This area was prioritized due to the results of our recent Diagnostic 3 iReady assessment, which showed that only about 39% of our students are reading at their grade level. This highlights a significant need for improvement in literacy instruction.

30:00

Next

Slide 6: Understanding BFI

Slide 7: Importance of BFI

Slide 8: Rationale for BFI Practices

Slide 9: Benefits of Literacy Instruction

INDEX

Slide 10: Strategies for Implementing BFI

Slide 11: Examples of BFI Techniques

Slide 12: Case Study: BFI in Action

Slide 13: Activity: Check for Understanding

Slide 14: Activity: Part One, Directions

Slide 15/16: Activity: Planning Graphic Organizer

Mrs. Branson

Montevideo Elementary

Slide 17: Assessing BFI Effectiveness and Creating An Action Plan

Next

Back

Slide 18: Resources for BFI

Slide 19: Supporting Video:The Science of Teaching, Effective Education, and Great Schools

Slide 20: Reflection and Next Steps

INDEX

Slide 21: Scholarly References

Slide 22: Congratulations

Slide 23: Feedback

Mrs. Branson

Montevideo Elementary

Next

Back

Understanding Best First Instruction

Definition

Strategies for Implementing BFI in the Classroom

Clear Learning Objectives: done through guided instruction and assessment.

Differentiated Instruction: by using different teaching approaches, materials, and evaluations.

Formative Assessment: that informs instruction and provides feedback to students.

Importance of BFI in Literacy Instruction

Immediate Feedback: correct misunderstandings, strengthen comprehension, and direct the next steps of learning during instruction.

Engagement Strategies: through activities, discussions, and hands-on experiences to enhance learning.

Next

Back

The Importance of Best First Instruction

Today's Learning Objectives

Understand the relevance of Best First Instruction (BFI) in literacy instruction.

Identify practical applications of BFI techniques in the classroom setting.

Exploring BFI strategies, & why they should be included in teaching.

Reflect on the impact of BFI on student learning outcomes and instructional practices.

Create BFI lesson plans that meet instructional goals and student needs through hands-on activities.

Access resources and support materials.

Next

Back

08

Rationale for Best First Practices

Improves Student Achievement

Addresses Learning Gaps Early

Promotes Equity in Education

Next

Back

09

Benefits of Literacy Instruction Enhancement

Enhanced Student Engagement

Improved Comprehension Skills

Increased Academic Success

Next

Back

Strategies for Implementing BFI in the Classroom:

Differentiated Instruction: Tailoring instruction to meet the diverse needs of students through varied instructional approaches, materials, and assessments.

Scaffolded Support: Providing targeted support and guidance to help students gradually build understanding and proficiency in challenging concepts or skills.

Pre-assessment: Assessing students' prior knowledge, skills, and learning needs before instruction begins to inform instructional planning.

Active Engagement: Encouraging active learning through discussions, group activities, and hands-on projects to boost student engagement and motivation.

Formative Assessment: Continuous assessment practices track student progress, identify misunderstandings, and adjust teaching to support learning.

Next

Back

Examples of BFI Techniques:

Explicit Instruction: Clearly and systematically teaching new concepts or skills, providing step-by-step guidance and modeling, and offering opportunities for guided practice and feedback.

Close Reading: Engaging students in multiple readings of a text to promote deep comprehension, analysis, and interpretation of complex ideas and themes.

Graphic Organizers: Using visual tools, such as concept maps, graphic organizers, and charts, to help students organize information, make connections, and deepen understanding.

45:00

Think-Pair Share: Encouraging students to engage in independent thinking, collaborate with a partner, and share their ideas with the class promotes diversity and collaborative learning.

Peer Tutoring: Pairing students to work together in peer tutoring relationships, where one student serves as the tutor and the other as the learner, to provide additional support and reinforcement of learning.

Next

Back

Case Study: Best First Instruction in Action

Real-Life Example of Best First Instruction Implementation:

Results and Impact on Student Learning:

Mrs. Smith

Next

for understanding

All right!

Back

14

Part One: Teachers Plan a BFI Lesson for Their Classroom

• Teachers will collaborate in breakout groups to create a BFI lesson plan. The plan should target a specific classroom objective and include BFI techniques such as formative assessment, scaffolded support, and differentiated instruction.

• Teachers will consider diverse student needs and barriers when implementing BFI strategies. They will collaborate to create an engaging, comprehensive lesson plan for all learners.

Next

Back

15

Part One: BFI Lesson Planning Graphic Organizer

Next

Back

60:00

Activity: BFI Lesson Planning

Breakout Groups Activity:

Next

Back

17

Assessing BFI Effectiveness And Creating An Action Plan

30:00

Formative Assessment Strategies:

Monitoring Student Progress:

Adjusting Instruction Based on Data:

Next

Back

Resources for Best First Instruction

Recommended Reading Materials:

Online Resources and Websites:

Professional Development Opportunities:

"Differentiated Instruction in the English Classroom: Content, Process, Product, and Assessment" by Carol Ann Tomlinson: This resource offers insights into differentiated instruction techniques that align with BFI principles, focusing on meeting the diverse needs of students in the English classroom. "Formative Assessment in Practice: A Process of Inquiry and Action" by Margaret Heritage: This book explores formative assessment practices and their role in supporting student learning, offering practical guidance for implementing formative assessment strategies in the classroom.

TeachingChannel.org: This website features a wide range of videos, lesson plans, and resources for educators, including content related to BFI strategies and best practices. Edutopia.org: Edutopia provides articles, videos, and resources on effective teaching practices, including differentiated instruction, formative assessment, and student engagement strategies.

• Workshops and Seminars
• Online Courses
• Professional Learning Communities (PLCs)

Next

Back

Supporting Video: The Science of Teaching, Effective Education, and Great Schools

Next

Back

20

Reflection and Next Steps

15:00

• Action Plan for Implementing BFI:

• Follow-Up Support and Collaboration Opportunities:

• Closing Remarks:

• Participants Share Insights from the Activity:

• Reflect on Challenges and Opportunities:

• Discuss Strategies for Overcoming Implementation Barriers:

Next

Back

Scholarly References

CA Dept. Of Education (n.d.). California Comprehensive State Literacy   Plan. https://www.cde.ca.gov/pd/ps/documents/cacompstatelitplan.pdf Schwartz, S. (2023). Students aren’t rebounding from the academic effects of the pandemic. Education Week. https://www.edweek.org/leadership/students-arent-rebounding-from-the-academic-effects-of-the-pandemic/2023/07 University of Colorado. (n.d.). Best, first instruction.   CDE. https://www.cde.state.co.us/standardsandinstruction/bfi#:~:text=Best%2C%20First%20Instruction%20(BFI),first%20time%20they%20receive%20instruction.

Next

Best First Instruction

Congratulations

Exceptional Educator

Thank you for igniting student engagement, enhancing learning outcomes, and empowering instructional mastery.

Feedback

Back

Feedback

Thank You!

Back

Class Data

How is my class performing, and what are my students’ domain-specific instructional priorities? What are the suggested growth measures for each of my students?