Alexis Downham, Ed. S retweetledi
In education, we are constantly tempted by the next big thing. New programs. New acronyms. New initiatives that promise to transform learning overnight.
But the truth is far less flashy and far more dependable.
As John Hattie reminds us, almost everything we do in education “works”… some things just work better than others.
Real success is rarely about novelty. It’s about consistency.
As the quote says,
“Success is often found by practicing the fundamentals everyone knows they should be doing, but find too boring or basic to practice routinely.”
The practices that move student achievement the most aren’t trendy. They are the daily, tried and true fundamentals done with precision and purpose.
Four of the highest-impact things a teacher can do every single day:
1.Be crystal clear about the learning
Post and explain the learning intention and success criteria.
Students should be able to answer:
What am I learning?
Why am I learning it?
What does success look like?
When clarity goes up, achievement follows. Students hit targets they can clearly see.
2.Check for understanding constantly
Use quick, ongoing formative assessment:
questioning, turn-and-talk, whiteboards, exit tickets, short writes.
These simple checks tell the teacher what to reteach, who needs support, and when to move on. Instruction becomes responsive instead of reactive.
3.Give specific, actionable feedback
Not “good job.”
Not a score with no guidance.
Instead:
“You explained your answer clearly, now add evidence from the text to strengthen your argument.”
The best feedback tells students exactly what their next step is and gives them a chance to act on it.
4.Get every student thinking and talking
Learning is not a spectator sport.
Structured discussion, think-pair-share, cold call with support, and purposeful questioning ensure that every student processes the content, not just the most confident few.
When students do the cognitive heavy lifting, understanding deepens.
None of this is new.
None of this is flashy.
All of this works.
The path to higher student achievement isn’t hidden in the latest trend. It’s found in mastering the fundamentals, day after day, lesson after lesson.
Do the simple things.
Do them well.
Do them every day.
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