<div dir="ltr"><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">DI Listmates:<span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><span> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/robert-pondiscio-why-teachers-shouldnt-diy-lessons-kurt-engelmann-huiwc">https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/robert-pondiscio-why-teachers-shouldnt-diy-lessons-kurt-engelmann-huiwc</a><span></span></p><br><p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center;margin:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><b>Robert Pondiscio
on why teachers shouldn't DIY their lessons<span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><span> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">A few important and timely articles and podcasts on Direct
Instruction (DI) have come out recently.<span>
</span>One of the best is from Robert Pondiscio’s substack series, <i>The Next
30 Years: The Future of Education Reform</i>:<span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0in 0.5in;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><a href="https://thenext30years.substack.com/p/three-good-reasons-teachers-shouldnt" style="color:rgb(5,99,193);text-decoration:underline">https://thenext30years.substack.com/p/three-good-reasons-teachers-shouldnt</a><span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><span> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">In it, Robert Pondiscio argues that teachers shouldn’t be
asked to create their own lessons due to the complexity of creating lessons,
the lack of training teachers receive in program design, and the lack of time
they have to devote to creating lessons that are effective with all students.<span> </span>He describes the care with which Siegfried “Zig”
Engelmann (my father -- <a href="https://www.nifdi.org/home/siegfried-engelmann-1931-2019.html" style="color:rgb(5,99,193);text-decoration:underline">https://www.nifdi.org/home/siegfried-engelmann-1931-2019.html</a>)
and colleagues created cohesive, highly effective programs that incorporate
“faultless communication,” which provides for a single interpretation by
learners of the intended skill or concept being taught.<span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><span> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">Indeed, the process of designing instructional programs that
are effective with the full range of students is highly demanding.<span> </span>Here’s an excerpt from <i>Direct Instruction:
A Practitioner’s Handbook</i> (2024), <a href="https://tinyurl.com/direct-instruction-handbook" target="_blank" style="color:rgb(5,99,193);text-decoration:underline">https://tinyurl.com/direct-instruction-handbook</a>
on <i>field testing and revising the DI
programs</i> (p. 71):<span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0in 0.5in;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">Field tryouts involve different
sites that test lessons at different stages of revision.<span> </span>If a draft version of Lesson 50 of a program,
for instance, is tested with an initial group of students, the DI authors will
make the changes indicated by the field test and have the revised version ready
for the next instructional group when they reach Lesson 50.<span> </span>In the meantime, the first instructional
group will have continued through the program.<span>
</span>They might be on Lesson 75, for example, when the second group reaches
Lesson 50.<span> </span>If the tryout of the revised
version of Lesson 50 with the second group indicates the need for more
revisions, the authors will revise the lesson yet again in time for a third
group to test the lesson.<span> </span>This process
continues until the lesson meets the high standards for DI programs.<span> </span><span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0in 0.5in;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><span> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">Teachers just don’t have the training and resources to
conduct field tryouts of draft lessons and then revise them based on the
performance of students on the lessons.<span> </span><span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><span> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">It is helpful, though, for teachers to learn some essential
fundamentals of instructional design for several reasons (from pp. 206-7 of <i>Direct
Instruction: A Practitioner’s Handbook</i>):<span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0in 0.5in;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">First, they gain better insight
into the construction of the DI programs.<span>
</span>By creating their own lessons, teachers can better appreciate the
incremental design, the selection of examples and wording, the progression of
the instructional tracks from basic to more advanced concepts, the synthesis of
the tracks into more complex applications, the use of scaffolds, and many other
design elements that have been seamlessly incorporated into the DI programs.<span> </span>Constructing their own lessons will reinforce
how each component of the scripts plays an important role, and how the lessons
must be delivered with fidelity so students can master the content in
preparation for the next day’s lesson.<span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0in 0.5in;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><span> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0in 0.5in;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">Teachers should also learn to
create their own lessons because during the course of the year, they will need
to teach topics that are not addressed in the published DI programs.<span> </span>Local history or culture, current events,
recent scientific discoveries and innovations, and local flora and fauna are
all important topics that may not be covered in the DI programs.<span> </span>To make sure that students understand these
topics, teachers should apply the design elements that are described in these
resources and tie the material into knowledge that the students have already
mastered.<span> </span>By establishing explicit
connections between what students have already learned in the DI programs and
new material, teachers can effectively teach other topics not covered in the DI
programs.<span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0in 0.5in;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><span> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0in 0.5in;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">Given the great demands placed on
teachers to deliver instruction effectively to all their students, teachers may
find that the best instruction they can provide will follow this rule of thumb:
<i>if there is a published DI program that
addresses the content your students need, use that program.<span> </span>If there isn’t a published program for the
content needed by your students, apply effective instructional principles to
design and deliver instruction that addresses your students’ needs.</i><span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><span> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">We at the National Institute for Direct Instruction (NIFDI) have
found that many teachers who have taught a DI program for several years
understand some of the most prominent design elements that make the programs so
effective, but many teachers do not.<span> </span>Informational
sessions on instructional design can increase teachers’ appreciation of the construction
of effective programs, which will help them teach essential skills and content
to all students consistently.<span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><span> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">One option for learning about the design of DI is to attend a
one-day session, <i>Theory of Direct Instruction– Deconstructing DI</i>, part
of the annual National Direct Instruction Conference.<span> </span>The conference, which will take place in
Eugene, Oregon on July 21-25, offers program training sessions, week-long
institutes for coaches, leaders, and trainers, and informational sessions.<span> </span>For more information about the conference, see
<a href="http://www.nifdi.org/events" style="color:rgb(5,99,193);text-decoration:underline">www.nifdi.org/events</a>.<span> </span><span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><span> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">If you can’t make this session, the teacher’s guide for each
program level contains very helpful information on how the content is introduced
in tracks and then developed over time as students master essential skills and
concepts.<span> </span>Access info on specific DI
programs through “The Programs” tab of <a href="http://www.nifdi.org" style="color:rgb(5,99,193);text-decoration:underline">www.nifdi.org</a>.<span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><span> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">Kurt</p>
</div><div><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr">
<font color="#888888"><pre><span style="font-family:"comic sans ms",sans-serif;font-size:x-small">Kurt E. Engelmann, Ph.D., President
The National Institute for Direct Instruction (NIFDI)</span></pre></font><p class="MsoNormal"></p><i><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Helvetica;color:black"><a href="https://www.nifdi.org/training-events/events-calendar/training-event/ca1-2023.html" target="_blank"></a>
</span></i><font color="#888888"><div style="color:rgb(34,34,34)"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><font color="#888888"><div style="margin-bottom:12pt;text-align:center" align="center"><div style="margin-bottom:12pt;text-align:center" align="center"><div><pre><font color="#888888"><font size="1"><a href="tel:877-485-1973" value="+18774851973" target="_blank"><font color="#888888"><div style="color:rgb(34,34,34)"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><font color="#888888"><div style="margin-bottom:12pt;text-align:center" align="center"><div style="margin-bottom:12pt;text-align:center" align="center"><div><div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center"><span style="color:black"><hr width="100%" size="2" align="center"></span></div></div></div></div></div></font></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></font></a></font></font></pre></div></div></div></font></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></font>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2">Get the most comprehensive guide to implementing DI available
– </font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2"><b><i>Direct Instruction: A Practitioner’s Handbook</i></b>
(2024), </font></p><p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2">published by John Catt/Hodder Education</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font size="2"><a href="https://tinyurl.com/direct-instruction-handbook" target="_blank">https://tinyurl.com/direct-instruction-handbook</a></font>
</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><i><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Helvetica;color:black"><a href="https://www.nifdi.org/training-events/events-calendar/training-event/ca1-2023.html" target="_blank"></a>
</span></i><font color="#888888"><div style="color:rgb(34,34,34)"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><font color="#888888"><div style="margin-bottom:12pt;text-align:center" align="center"><div style="margin-bottom:12pt;text-align:center" align="center"><div><pre><font color="#888888"><font size="1"><a href="tel:877-485-1973" value="+18774851973" target="_blank"><font color="#888888"><div style="color:rgb(34,34,34)"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><font color="#888888"><div style="margin-bottom:12pt;text-align:center" align="center"><div style="margin-bottom:12pt;text-align:center" align="center"><div><div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:center" align="center"><span style="color:black"><hr width="100%" size="2" align="center"></span></div></div></div></div></div></font></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></font></a></font><b><span style="color:rgb(0,0,0)"></span></b></font></pre><p></p></div></div></div></font></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></font></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>