What works best?

As many times as I've heard the phrase "research-based" strategies talked about in my district and in teacher inservice, I've never seen the research presented so clearly.  It was very refreshing to read that most educational strategies work, yet we want to focus on the ones that repay effort invested.  When you have no focus regarding what strategies work better than others, you feel overwhelmed trying to implement them all.

I noticed that classroom size does seem to have an influence on student learning.  That said, it wasn't as significant as I thought it would be and that was very surprising to me.  As a teacher who had several classes of over 35, it gives me something to tell parents who are worried that their student will be at a disadvantage.  It seems that other factors can balance classroom size.  My classes seemed to bear this out - I always felt (and test grades reinforced this idea) that my bigger classes were learning more than my smallest class.  The two bigger classes had students who were motivated to learn, whereas my smallest class (of 29) had students who struggled in all classes and were much more difficult to motivate to learn.  Finally, as someone who has always been envious of "team teaching" - it seems that although it may be more enjoyable for the teachers, it doesn't have that much effect on student learning.

Our district has been talking about the influence of the teacher, and this research supports that it is the most important factor influencing student learning.  Of the top 6 influences, 2/3 are teacher driven.  This is empowering!  Since the evidence points to the fact that reflection is so important, I can easily provide more opportunities for reflection and this will increase student learning.  It also supports what we do in TLA!

Our superintendent is always saying that we need to "through some things out" and "focus on what works", but I haven't always been sure of what to throw out.  This website has been very informative and I think will certainly help in sorting what to "get rid of" to make teaching more enjoyable and effective.