Purposeful Classroom: How to Structure Lessons with Learning Goals

by Douglas Fisher, Nancy Frey

How can teachers guarantee that what they teach results in students learning what they really need to know? In The Purposeful How to Structure Lessons with Learning Goals in Mind , Douglas Fisher and Nancy Frey present a variety of strategies that teachers at all levels can use to ensure that students clearly understand the purpose behind every lesson. They provide step-by-step guidance to help teachers
* Understand the difference between standards, objectives, and purpose statements, and craft the latter in terms that students can easily grasp.

* Involve students in understanding and "owning" the purpose of every lesson.

* Motivate students by conveying the relevance of content to students' lives.

* Develop classroom activities and assessments that allow students to demonstrate both their mastery of lesson content and their understanding of the lesson's core purpose.
From initiating lesson plans to evaluating student work, all aspects of lesson development and implementation are discussed in this lively and practical book. Filled with specific examples of effective purpose statements, assignments, and tests across grade levels and content areas, The Purposeful Classroom is essential reading for all teachers who want their students to truly understand what they are learning and why.

Genres: Education, Teaching

176 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2011

About the author

Douglas Fisher, Ph.D., is an educator and Professor of Educational Leadership at San Diego State University and a teacher leader at Health Sciences High & Middle College.

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Reviews

[Lala Guse · Rating 5 out of 5]

Douglas Fisher and Nancy Frey are gods in the field. It's hard to write an educational research paper without copying one of these names down, but this is my first book of theirs that I have read. It was a lot more fun than reading a research article or just a chapter, :')

This book was a good back to fundamentals of teaching book for me. I am really happy that I read this as there are so many new thoughts being pushed at teachers that it's nice to go back to what works? What is research-proven? I also really liked that this book is focused on teaching methods, not "Here is my unit plan. Feel free to copy and paste into your own curriculum," like a Gallagher book does. Focusing on methods allows for a teacher to put in their own personal style and thoughts using those methods, and that's what I am more interested in with this stage of my career and current education.

[Alison Hamilton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of really great tips for teaching. Read this in my senior year of college, and I found it helpful to keep in mind for a classroom structure. Definitely keep sticky notes and a highlighter in hand.

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fantastic book for anyone who teaches. I have been teaching for 8 years and still learned and was reminded how to be better.

[David Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good book

i liked this book it had a lot of great ideas about how to structure lessons and teaching in your classroom

[Meighen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Makes a well-reasoned argument about the difference between objectives and purpose statements (or learning targets), and makes a case for the existence of both for teachers. Begins by introducing the classic Fisher & Frey learning model, one which derives from Pearson and Gallagher's Gradual Release of Responsibility model, but perhaps does more to incorporate student collaboration. Draws strong connections between purpose statements and motivation- points are backed up by some of the major theories in the study of motivation. Includes several rubrics with indicators of a purposeful classroom. It's important to note that Fisher and Frey do not advocate that these rubrics be used for evaluation, but rather "as a needs assessment following a conversation about quality". The discussion on learning targets and language objectives is particularly helpful as a starter guide for anyone just getting involved in the process.

[Nisha · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was disappointed by this book-- I was looking for some good examples of purpose and well set objectives, but I found the book strayed from its title-- too many asides about working in groups and other strategies when I wanted a deeper look at establishing worthy learning goals. Rats.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5
Gave me some insights into better planning in the classroom and why a daily purpose statement is important. Main complaint is that at times the authors were a bit vague in their explanations.