“The number one concern that I hear from educators is lack of time, particularly lack of instructional time with students,” says Nell K. Duke, Ed.D., Professor, University of Michigan. “I encourage you to scrutinize your use of instructional time minute by minute. If a practice is used because we’ve always done it that way or because parents expect it, it’s especially worthy of a hard look.” Her article on edutopia.org outlines some familiar practices that can be ineffective or even counter productive:
- Looking up words on lists
- Prizes for reading
- Weekly spelling tests
- Unsupported independent reading
- Taking away recess.
