Strategy Instruction
Alberta Learning, 2002, describes strategy instruction as teaching students how to approach tasks and use knowledge to solve a problem. It involves modeling and demonstration, feedback, guided and independant practice and transfer. General tips for teaching strategies to students include the following:
- Teach one strategy at a time.
- Teach a strategy as part of classroom learning, within the context of curriculum.
- Use direct instruction and be explicit in your language and examples.
- Help students see the benefits of a strategy – use real world examples.
- Model the step-by-step use of a strategy.
- Reinforce the strategy with visual cues.
- Provide guided practice with easier material.
- Give students opportunities to show what they know.
- Help students make the link between the strategy and different curriculum areas.
- Encourage students to adapt and personalize strategies.