KEY Six

Curriculum and Instruction

Student learning and achievement reflect the breath, depth, and coherence of a school’s curriculum and the nature and quality of the instruction it provides. Indicators:

1.    The curriculum includes “learning how to learn” activities such as library research, developing models, brainstorming, and debating ideas. 
2.    Instructional strategies are varied, engaging, and include collaborative activities that require “higher order thinking” — for example, hands-on projects and substantive discussions during which students must explain their reasoning to instructors and peers. 
3.    Students have opportunities to study topics in depth.
4.    Educators celebrate and reward accuracy and attention to detail, including clear and precise communication, as much as they celebrate and reward effort.
5.    Students receive personal instruction and feedback about their performance.
6.    Research conducted by the school influences decisions about programs and instruction.

For more about these indicators, click here.
For recommended reading materials, click here.