Extensive scientific research base

Developed by Edwin Ellis, PhD,
Professor, University of Alabama
Affiliate Research Scientist, University of Kansas, Center for Research on Learning

Universal

Used in primary, intermediate, middle, high schools and college
Validated for use in general and special education

Strategic Instruction Routines

Specific research-validated instructional strategies designed to maximize student engagement and elaboration of concepts, skills, and learning strategies Three categories of Strategic Instructional Routines

• Activation Routines employed at lesson beginning for pre-assessment, activating background knowledge, and reviewing critical prerequisite knowledge
• Scaffolding Routines for scaffolding the development of new knowledge and skills during a lesson.
• Reflective Review Routines for reviewing and reflecting on new knowledge and skills at lesson end.

Organizer SMARTsheets™

Graphic organizers enhanced with embedded semantic higher-order thinking, elaboration, and structural cues

Hierarchic, Compare/Contrast, Cause/Effect, Sequence graphic organizers

Used for Science, Social Studies, Literature, Writing, Vocabulary and Math instruction

Waters-UP the curriculum by making complex ideas easier to understand and remember via enhancing clarity of to-be-learned information and reducing information processing demands; very effective alternative to watering-down the curriculum.

Essential Understanding SMARTsheets™

• Literature
• Writing
• Social Studies
• Science
• Math
• Social/Behavior Literacy
• Vocabulary
• Project-based Learning

Instructional Design SMARTplanners™

Used by teachers to differentiate curriculum, plan instructional units and lessons using MSS Strategic Instructional Routines.

Implementation SMARTplanners™

Used by instructional leaders and professional development teams to plan, implement, and evaluate Makes Sense Strategies.