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Brainsarefun and
Direct Instruction,
How Do They Relate?

Project Follow Through remains the largest educational research study the world has ever seen. Costing one billion dollars, it began in 1964 as part of President Johnson's War on Poverty and continued until the summer of 1995. During this time sponsors and researchers mobilized a massive effort to find out what really works to teach students to read, write, listen, speak, organize information and do math.

In the end the answer was clear: SRA/McGraw-Hill's Direct Instruction (DI), was consistently found to be the most effective curriculum and methodology available.

Direct Instruction is a model for teaching that emphasizes well-developed and carefully planned lessons designed around small learning increments and clearly defined and articulated tasks. It is based on the theory that clear, consistent instruction greatly improves and accelerates learning.

DIRECT INSTRUCTION classrooms have many common elements:

1. Teaching is not confused with learning.
2. Placement tests assign students to appropriate skill groups.
3. Cooperative behavior is established before academic instruction.
4. Teacher behavior is recognized and accepted as the critical variable to student success.
5. The curriculum is recognized as a critical variable in effective instruction and is continually evaluated against results.
6. Skills and information to be learned is broken down into its component parts and the component parts are drilled to mastery.
7. Phonics and sound blending are the basis for reading and reading mastery is recognized as the core academic competency.
8. Errors are corrected immediately.
9. Good behavior is regularly rewarded (rarely with candy).
10. Low-performing students are never ignored, and are never tricked by questions to which they haven't first been taught the answers.
11. Computation is the foundation of mathematics.
12. All students are regularly tested to insure mastery of the material.
13. The class does not move on until proficiency or mastery is achieved by at least 70% of the class as demonstrated by ongoing testing.
14. When appropriate, the remaining 30% are assigned to remedial skills groups.
15. Quick and easily managed interventions are readily available.
16. Teachers receive ongoing training and regular evaluations.

For more see The Research that Supports Direct Instruction.

For a more thorough discussion of Direct Instruction see: DIRECT INSTRUCTION, What is it?

BRAINSAREFUN is a website that distills best teaching practices from Direct Instruction. In addition, it takes advantages of Precision Teaching, Positive Discipline, Accelerated Learning, Reading and Study Skills, Experiential Education, and the Core Knowledge sequence. For more see Brainsarefun, A Short Introduction.

COPYRIGHT NOTICE: WHAT IS BRAINSAREFUN AND DIRECT INSTRUCTION? © April 2003 by Rory Donaldson. All rights reserved. In order to help reverse the tide of academic failure and optimize success, individuals may copy brainsarefun solutions for non-commercial use at no charge. Contents may not be sold or repackaged in any manner without the written permission of Rory Donaldson. Since all material is copyrighted, please ensure that this entire copyright notice and contact information continues to be attached to each article you download. Mr. Donaldson appreciates the feedback. Additional solutions may be viewed and downloaded at no charge by logging on to brainsarefun.com. Titles are being updated, edited and added regularly. To view most recently added titles you may click here.

Suggestions and comments encouraged, email: roryd@brainsarefun.com.

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