Whole-Class Instruction

The Modern Classroom model emphasizes blended, self-paced, mastery-based instruction. Much of the time, this means that students will be watching videos, working in small groups, or studying independently, with your support as needed.

With that said, and when used purposefully, whole-group instruction can be a powerful tool for community-building, discussion, and fun! Here are two ways in which Distinguished Modern Classroom Educators use whole-class time.

 1: Whole-Class Opening Routine

Starting each class with an opening routine, in which every student participates, can be a great way to review content from a previous unit, share announcements, discuss a particular academic skill, (note-taking, asking questions, etc.), or just chat. It can also help students settle into class, before they dive straight into learning.

Here’s how opening routines can look in two different Modern Classrooms. These educators have used Edpuzzle to annotate their videos, so that you can get a window into their thinking and procedures.

A few minutes in class can be extremely valuable for community- and relationship-building, and it’s a nice way to share important information when necessary. And if one day, you don’t have anything to discuss, you can always just skip the opening!

 2: Planned Whole-Class Activities

Want to plan a whole-class debate, lab, simulation, Socratic seminar, or other enrichment activity? Sounds great! Planned activities like these give students a nice deadline to aim for, as well as extra motivation: the better-prepared they are, the more they’ll get out of the activity. Consider:

• Starting new units with inquiry-based activities, which all students can complete together.

• Setting dates of whole-class activities well in advance, and giving frequent reminders so that students will be ready.

• Planning mid-unit "buffer lessons" (should-do/aspire-to-do) so that learners have the chance to catch up in time.

• Designing self-paced alternatives or make-up sessions for students who aren't able to participate the first time around.

These whole-class activities can become the highlight of an entire unit — and thanks to self-pacing, each of your students can be prepared to get the full value out of your carefully planned lesson.

Will either of these forms of whole-class learning work for your students? Try them out and see! Remember that the best Modern Classrooms use multiple forms of instruction - and that the strategies that will make your life easiest are those that best meet your students’ needs.

Interested in more classroom-tested tools and techniques?