1. DIRECT INTERACTIVE INSTRUCTION
8 Characteristics

2. Direct Instruction Research Based
High achieving schools have been found to consistently implement Direct Instruction
There are 8 Characteristics of Direct Instruction

3. CHARACTERISTIC #1 Standards and Objectives are clearly and explicitly stated for every exercise for both teacher and students.

4. Direct Instruction: Characteristic #1 Standards and Objectives are clearly and explicitly stated for every exercise for both teacher and students.
Clearly state the lesson’s goal and related standard and be sure to reference them throughout the lesson
Students might state the lesson objective in the first person to personalize the objective and articulate it in specific terms
Oral Cloze or Student Read
Color coded ‘high frequency’ and ‘academic vocabulary’ terms
Post a lesson agenda to provide students with a ‘road map’ for learning

5. CHARACTERISTIC #2 There is continuous and intensive interaction and communication between teacher and student.

6. Direct Instruction: Characteristic # 2 There is continuous and intensive interaction and communication between teacher and student.
Key concepts for this characteristic are continuous and intensive communication
Engaging learning strategies are pivotal in this endeavor:
Direct Instruction
Kinsella Strategies
Thinking Maps
ALS Graphic Organizers
Reciprocal Teaching

7. CHARACTERISTIC #3 Instructional communication is predetermined.

8. Direct Instruction: Characteristic #3 Instructional communication is predetermined.
The focus is providing the students with clear expectations of what they need to do for ALL types of classroom activities and/or interactions.
Verbal & Non-Verbal Cues
Classroom Management…moving students from one activity to the next, one strategy to the next, or into a desired behavior.
Examples:
Moving in & out of a Think-Pair-Share
Rating Level of Understanding (fist-to-five, thumbs up/down, etc.)
Preparing for (or transitioning into) a lesson
Group Jobs/Expectations
Refocusing
Sharing Information

9. CHARACTERISTIC #4 During the structured/scripted dialogue teacher wordings and demonstration are unambiguous.

10. Direct Instruction: Characteristic #4 During the structured/scripted dialogue teacher wordings and demonstration are unambiguous.
The Key concept is: Planning!!! Planning!!! Planning!!!
Procedures, expectations, and conceptual presentations are clear and easily understood.
Understanding the level of your students.
The method of conveying the concept isn’t above the level of the learner.
The activities and teacher samples are easily transferred to the students.

11. CHARACTERISTIC #5 Students participate in a sequence of short, quick-paced interactive exercises.

12. Direct Instruction: Characteristic #5 Students participate in a sequence of short, quick-paced interactive exercises.
Student/teacher interaction should be frequent and short. Thirty seconds is an ideal time frame for students to share ideas.
Strategies to engage students might include:
Oral Cloze
Think Pair Share
Choral Response
Word wall interaction
Idea Wave or Pass It On
Choral Reading
Whip Around
Whiteboard Responses

13. CHARACTERISTIC #6 Teacher reinforces student learning with explicit procedures.

14. Direct Instruction: Characteristic #6 Teacher reinforces student learning with explicit procedures.
There are clearly defined expectations for all aspects of the students time in class.
The teacher reinforces any academic success with positive, confidence building, and consistent routines.
The procedures MUST be specific to the Behavior you want to reinforce!

15. Direct Instruction: Characteristic #6 Teacher reinforces student learning with explicit procedures.
The expectations may included:
Entering and/or Exiting the room
Preparing for the lesson
Student Agenda
Warm-Up and/or Wrap-Up
TPS/Cooperative Learning
Note Taking/Outline
Sharing Out Information
Paper Heading
Homework
Reading for Understanding (Reciprocal Teaching Skills)

16. CHARACTERISTIC #7 Students receive immediate correctives and feedback from teacher.

17. Direct Instruction: Characteristic #7 Students receive immediate correctives and feedback from teacher.
Key concept is that both the corrective and feedback are immediate.
When an error is made the teacher ensures that the student’s incorrect answer is immediately reinforced with the CORRECT answer!
Immediately go to another student for the correct answer, then back to the first student and ask them the question again.

18. Direct Instruction: Characteristic #7 Students receive immediate correctives and feedback from teacher.
There are 4 types of errors that require immediate correctives and feedback:
Memory Error
Motor Error
Process Error
Discrimination Error

19. CHARACTERISTIC #8 Throughout the lesson, there is a high level of intensity and a high level of orientation for success.

20. Direct Instruction: Characteristic #8 Throughout the lesson, there is a high level of intensity and a high level of orientation for success.
The key ideas of this component are intensity and orientation for success.
Articulating clear expectations for all students and holding students accountable for their individual learning and for teacher expectations is key.
Consistent and efficient classroom management techniques.