I just returned from Travis High School in Austin, TX where I work with their Science and Social Science teachers. I introduced one of my favorite instructional strategies, Concept Attainment. I was reminded, in preparing for the training and conducting it, how much fun it is for the learner and teacher. I was also reminded that the hardest aspect of teaching this strategy is understanding what a “concept” truly is.

Props to the Travis teachers for jumping on this strategy. By day’s end each department had created minimally three common CA lessons to teach. That’s implementation!

This work serves as a reminder to me that all schools, of all stripes, need teachers with a rich repertoire of high-yield strategies; and that, teachers, like kids, want variety and choices when instructing.