TARGETING INSTRUCTION TO
IMPROVE STUDENT PERFORMANCE

What is an Instructional Target?

1. It is a specific piece of content, like fractions in math or subject/predicate in language arts, where student scores on assessments are below what we expect.
2. The target areas are a part of the DoDEA Curriculum.
3. Teachers deliver additional instruction targeted at improving student learning.

Instructional Target Process

1. Disaggregating student performance data identifying weak areas.
2. Correlation with DoDEA Curriculum Standards and instructional materials.
3. Create Target Time instruction.
4. Implementing Target instruction.
5. Assess student learning.
6. Improvement of student performance.

Why Use Instructional Targeting?

Because it... WORKS!

• connects to the DoDEA Standards
• zeros in on student learning weaknesses
• provides additional opportunities for students to accelerate learning to higher levels
• results in improved student performance
• is a proven strategy to help kids learn and grow
• helps teachers understand the specific learning positions of students
• doesn't take lots of funding to implement
• it isn't a new idea nor is it the "flavor of the month".

What is the Overall Idea Here With Instructional Targeting?

1. Improvement of Student Performance in specific TARGETED areas is the goal.
2. Look at student performance data.
3. Identify Weaknesses - areas where performance falls short of our expectations. These become targets.
4. Research the targets and identify current best instructional practices.
5. Correlate the targets with DoDEA Standards.
6. Create additional instruction around the Targets.
7. Teach the students.
8. Assess the difference.
9. Make adjustments and repeat # 6, 7, 8, and 9.

Kingsolver Targeted Instruction Calendar

Math sites that reinforce Targeted Instruction sub-skills.

The following links are external from Kingsolver's Site

• Mastermind - (Number Pattern) From NLVM, students use inference and logic to play a game and guess a hidden pattern of pegs. Grades Pre-K - 3
• Color Sequence - (Number Pattern) From the UK site Crickweb for Kindergarten - Grade 1
• Pattern Mania - (Number Pattern) From Primary Games for Kindergarten - Grade 3 (requires Shockwave, Java, or Flash). Has advertising banners, but the content of the site is excellent.
• Geoboard - (Number Pattern) From NLVM for grades K-1
• Bar Chart - (Evaluating Solution) Create a bar chart showing quantities or percentages by labeling columns and clicking on values. For Grades Pre-K - 2 also from NLVM.
• Pie Chart - (Fractional Parts/Evaluating Solution) Explore percentages and fractions using pie charts. Grades Pre-K-3 from NLVM.
• Fraction Bars - (Fractional Parts) Learn about fractions using fraction bars. Grades Pre-K - 3
• Fractions - Parts of a Whole - (Fractional Parts) Relates parts of a whole unit to written description and fraction. Grades Pre-K - 3
• Fractions - Visualizing - (Fractional Part ) Illustrate a fraction by dividing a shape and highlighting the appropriate parts. Grades Pre-K - 3
• Fractions - Naming - (Fractional Part) Write the fraction corresponding to the highlighted portion of a shape. Grades Pre-K - 3
• Base Blocks Addition - (Computation) Use base ten blocks to model grouping in addition. Grades Pre-K - 3
• Base Blocks Subtraction - (Computation) Use base ten blocks to model separation of groups in subtraction. Grades Pre-K - 3

Reading sites that reinforce Targeted Instruction sub-skills.

The following links are external from Kingsolver's Site

• Starfall.com - (Sequence) Reading instruction for PreK-Grade 1
• Book Adventure -(Vocabualry Strategies/Combining Sentences/Subject-Predicate) A site that will match you with books you will love.  (K - 8th grade)  Register for free, find books, read online and take quizzes to earn points.
• Guide to Grammar and Writing - (Subject-Predicate/Sentence Combining/Vocabulary Strategies) Find help with words, sentences, essays and stories. (Grades 2-3)
• Words and Pictures - (Vocabulary Strategies/Sentence Combining/Subject-Predicate) Have fun building a sandcastle with Colin the Clam and writing postcards with Salty Sam or write your own poetry and sentences and see them on display in the gallery. (Grades 1-3)
• KidsReads.com - A little of everything on this site for becoming better readers and writers. (Grades 1-3)
• The STACKS (From Scholastic) - Brand new site that offers great reads, authors, games and more so students can learn more about their favorite books and characters. (Grades 2-3)
• Mad Libs Junior - (Sentence Combining/Subject-Predicate/Relevance) - Kids write whacky stories using Mad Lib format. (Grades 1-3).
• Art Safari - (Sequence/Sentence Combining/Subject-Predicate/Relevance) -This site lets you choose a famous painting, and then helps you write a story about it. You can even submit your story to a Childrens Art Display that will be seen by people all over the world! (Grades 1-3)
• English Online - (Sentence Combining, Sequence, Subject-Predicate, Relevance) Writers, from age five to seventeen, are encouraged "to share their work and help each other improve their writing. Published works are categorized by age range and genre, and reader feedback is solicited about each piece. Categories include short stories, poetry, research papers, book reviews, television reviews and movie reviews. There are also five continuous stories that you can add to."