Blended Instruction

Blended instruction should be a staple for academy teachers. In its simplest form, blended instruction means that students receive instruction in two ways: from the teacher and virtually.

On a daily basis teachers will provide students with instruction that addresses score 2.0, 3.0, and 4.0 content for a specific proficiency scale. Sometimes direct instruction is required. Sometimes instruction is focused on practicing a skill or deepening understanding of information. Sometimes instruction focuses on helping students apply their knowledge in new situations. An academy teacher continually evaluates the type of instruction required for students given the level of the proficiency scale in which they are working.

In addition to planning for day-­to-day instruction regarding proficiency scales, an academy teacher continually develops online activities and resources for score 2.0, 3.0, and 4.0 content for each proficiency scale. This is a project in which all teachers should share responsibility. That is, teachers who are using proficiency scales in common should design, create, and share online resources for the score 2.0, 3.0, and 4.0 content. To illustrate, consider figure 5.1.