InTASC Standard # 7 is planning for instruction. This standard ensures that teachers plan thoughtful instruction that meets the needs of all students in the classroom. Educators use their content and pedagogical knowledge, cross-disciplinary skills, and knowledge of their students and classroom environments to plan instruction that helps students reach high-level learning goals.
#1 Multiple intelligences
Using multiple intelligences is a great way to ensure that the planning for instruction standard is being met in the classroom. During Math centers, I provide students with a variety of different ways to interact with their content. I use the MATH acronym (M-meet the teacher, A-at your seat work, T-technology, H-hands on) to ensure that students are working with content in a variety of ways. During these rotations, students can work independently and in groups, depending on the activity. Here is a first-grade unit that I created on money using multiple intelligences and the MATH acronym.
#2 Cross-disciplinary instruction
Another way I use the planning for instruction standard is by using cross-disciplinary instruction in the classroom. For example, when teaching a first-grade science unit on plants, students also wrote about how plants grow during their writing time. By addressing the same information across multiple subjects, I am able to reinforce the content in a time-efficient way, while addressing multiple standards of learning. This strategy is effective both for student learning and for pacing instruction throughout the year.
#3 Madeline Hunter lesson plan
One way that I implement the planning for instruction standard in the classroom is by using the Madeline Hunter lesson plan format. This format ensures that all students’ needs are being met in instruction. This format uses Bloom’s taxonomy, multiple intelligences, accommodations, and differentiation, to make sure all students are being serviced equitably. This lesson plan format also ensures that students are getting warm-up activities, direct teaching/modeling, guided and independent practice, and assessment. Here is an example of a kindergarten lesson plan that I created on phases of matter using the Madeline Hunter format.