Choosing the Method of Instruction

For the purposes of this workshop, we will introduce five methods of instruction described by Susan McShane in Chapter 9 of her book, Applying Research in Reading Instruction for Adults: First Steps for Teachers. As you read the descriptions, you will notice that these teaching methods complement each other.

1. Explicit or direct instruction
   
   • Make goals, lesson objectives, activities, and expectations clear
   • Make connections between lesson activities and broader skill goals
   • Address background knowledge and prerequisite skills
   • Explain and model all aspects of the task
   • Assume nothing and leave nothing to chance
     
     
2. Strategy instruction
   
   • Teach learning tools: principles, rules, multi-step processes to accomplish learning tasks (rules for phonics)
   • Model and demonstrate; prompt and cue learners to use strategies
     
     
3. Scaffolded instruction
   
   • Provide supports for learning as needed: breaking into steps, providing clues, reminders, or encouragement (identifying which reading comprehension strategies your student is using and discussing them).
   • Withdraw support gradually as it becomes less necessary (as when your student's sight word vocabulary increases and the need for sounding out word parts decreases).
     
     
4. Intensive instruction or active engagement
   
   • Keep learners focused, active, and responding
   • Provide plenty of "time on task" (hands-on activities)
     
     
5. Structured or segmented instruction
   • Break information and skills into manageable parts
   • Teach parts systematically and in sequence
   • Bring the parts together to re-focus on the whole