Elementary Instructional Blueprints
Elementary instructional blueprints depict ways teams of educators with distributed expertise might deploy themselves to better deepen and personalize student learning.
An introduction
Although each blueprint is unique, most were developed with a shared set of assumptions. Start your exploration of the blueprints by familiarizing yourself with the assumptions that undergird them.
Team-based differentiated practice
This instructional blueprint follows a direct-instruction lesson progression implemented by a team of educators. Students begin the lesson in three large groups, then transition to differentiated groups for continued practice, targeted reteaching or extension. As students move to differentiated groups, the lead teacher may turn their attention from leading instruction for students to providing coaching and support for new teachers and other educators.
Lessons with industry experts
Here, structured guidance from industry experts (i.e., community educators) enriches student learning. Note that this blueprint is appropriate for implementation midway through a project-based learning unit. Here, students have the opportunity to pose their questions and learn from the experts’ responses as well as rotate through “progress checks” intended to tailor support as they progress toward completion of their projects.
Thematic learning rotation
This instructional blueprint describes an approach a team of educators might take to progress through the curriculum and review previously learned material while still offering opportunities for personalized learning.
Authentic assessment work time
Multidisciplinary approaches and authentic assessment are two hallmarks of deeper, personalized learning. This instructional blueprint describes a recurring structure a team of educators might leverage over the course of a multidisciplinary unit to support students as they work on an authentic assessment.