Direct Instruction: Principles and Practice

What are the guiding principles of direct instruction?

1) Present lessons in a well-organized, sequenced manner
2) Begin lessons with a short review of previously learned skills necessary to begin the lesson
3) Present new material in fairly large chunks to keep it interesting, without too much practice and demonstration after each step
4) Ask questions to check students' understanding, and obtain responses from everyone

Answer:

Direct instruction is based on the principles of structured learning, reviewing previous skills, and ensuring student understanding.

Direct instruction is a teaching method that emphasizes straightforward, explicit instruction techniques. The guiding principles of direct instruction include presenting lessons in a well-organized, sequenced manner to facilitate learning progression. Beginning lessons with a brief review of previously learned skills helps students make connections and build on existing knowledge.

One of the key principles of direct instruction is ensuring student understanding by asking questions to check comprehension and encouraging responses from everyone in the classroom. This active participation helps engage students and reinforces learning.

However, direct instruction does not involve presenting new material in large chunks without adequate practice and demonstration after each step. In fact, the opposite is true - direct instruction focuses on presenting new information in small, manageable increments. This approach ensures that students fully grasp each concept before moving on to the next, with a strong emphasis on practice and step-by-step demonstration.