Inquiry-Based Instructional Strategies

Our teachers use specific strategies and techniques to help students learn. We use a inquiry-based approach to cause student learning. This approach is rooted in the idea that teachers should not simply cover content but help students construct meaning about powerful and important ideas. Because different kinds of content demand different types of instructional strategies, our teachers use direct instruction, facilitative methods (inquiry-based), and coaching methods to help students develop and deepen their content knowledge and skills, and transfer their learning. The chart below guides our work:

The Teacher (The Strategy the Teacher Uses)	The Student (The Processes the Student Uses)
Didactic or Direct Instruction	Receive, Take in, Respond
Demonstration or Modeling Lecture Independent Study Multimedia Presentation (e.g., PowerPoint) Questioning (convergent) Tag It a 3	Observe, attempt, practice, refine Listen, watch, take notes, question Observe, attempt, practice, reflect, refine Observe, take notes, question Answer, give responses Turn question to statement, answer, give support
Facilitative Methods (Inquiry-Based)	Construct, Examine, Extend Meaning
Concept Attainment Cooperative Learning Discussion Experimental Inquiry Graphic Representation Guided Inquiry Jig Saw Problem-Based Learning Questions (Open-Ended) Reciprocal Teaching Simulation (e.g., mock trial) Socratic Seminar String Activity Text Rendering Understanding Notebook Whip Around Word Splash Writing Process (e.g., Collins Writing Model)	Compare, induce, define, generalize Collaborate, support others, teach Listen, question, consider, explain Hypothesize, gather data, analyze Visualize, connect, map relationships Question, research, conclude, support Divide content, read and explore, teach Pose/define problems, solve, evaluate Answer and explain, reflect, rethink Clarity, question, predict, teach Examine, consider, challenge, debate Consider, explain, challenge, justify Visualize, connect, map relationships Mark up text, reflect, explain Take meaningful notes, reflect and refine, rethink Think, respond, rethink Consider, connect, share, read, explain Brainstorm, organize, draft, revise
Coaching Methods	Refine Skills, Deepen Understanding
Conferencing and Document Review Guided Practice Read Aloud Think Aloud	Listen, consider, practice, retry, refine Revise, reflect, refine, recycle through Listen, consider, practice, refine Listen, analyze, practice, refine