Instructional Model
In Frisco ISD, teachers use the workshop model to structure the Social Studies instructional block. In Elementary Social Studies, we strive to create an engaging learning environment that supports high levels of learning through a balance of explicit instruction and student exploration and discovery.
The instructional framework provides a structure in which Social Studies instruction is facilitated daily. It helps to ensure:
Students engage in the workshop model to participate in an active literacy classroom centered around social studies content.
Students receive a balance of explicit instruction and student exploration to discover new ideas within their learning.
Students are provided explicit instruction through mini lessons, conferences, and strategy groups.
Students are given voice and choice to explore a variety of resources within student partnerships, collaborative group work, or independent practice.
Learning supports students in becoming proficient readers, writers, thinkers, and communicators.
| Component | Component Description |
|---|---|
| Minilesson | Connect: Teacher piques students’ interest and curiosity while building students’ background knowledge. Students connect to their prior experiences and begin to build their knowledge. Teach: Teacher demonstrates a process, strategy or technique, thinking aloud to help kids understand the process. Active Engagement: Still sitting up close as a group, students try the process, strategy, or technique with the teacher prompting as necessary. The teacher can assess how well students understand the task and when they are ready for practice. Link: Link to students’ next steps as they apply this learning in independent practice. |
| Independent Practice ‘Heart of the Workshop’ | Students practice collaboratively or independently as the teacher circulates the classroom and confers with individuals or small groups. The teacher supports students’ critical thinking skills as students acquire new information from a variety of sources. |
| Share | Students come together to summarize and share their learning, with discussion and dialogue that revisit the purpose and goal of the minilesson. |