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Instructional Minute

October 11, 2022

Instructional Minute October 11, 2022

April 23, 2024

Structures to Engage All in Responding

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Questioning is a process that can elicit student thinking and speaking to provide teachers with the data necessary to form effective feedback for students. Quality questioning is the activator of dialogic interactions that produce reciprocal feedback and allow students to assume an active role in the learning (refer to Instructional Minute 04/09/2024 to learn more about Questions to Activate Thinking). Think time provides ALL students an opportunity to engage in answering the quality questions rather than waiting to hear one or couple of answers from their peers. (refer to Instructional Minute 04/16/2024 to learn more about Time for ALL Students to Think).


The third component of the quality questioning framework focuses on response structures. These are the strategies and protocols that teachers select to scaffold speaking and listening in a community of learners. Strategically selected response structures serve three primary purposes:

  • To ensure that all students are accountable for thinking and speaking

  • To help students benefit from the thinking and knowledge of their classmates

  • To provide the teacher with feedback from individuals and the entire class

Response structures can be sorted into three categories:

  • All-response systems - is most often used when the learning target focuses on surface knowledge. Examples include signaled responses, work samples, & choral responses.

  • Pair-response structures - can be used for clarification of new learning or preparing for a whole-class discussion. An example is think-pair-share.

  • Protocols for responding within collaborative groups - useful for organizing and guiding small groups engaged in discussions, collaborative problem solving, and other activities to deepen learning. Examples include small groups of 3 - 5 students that discuss a question by sharing their ideas, piggybacking off of one another’s ideas, posing questions to one another, and inquiring together.
Video 2 3 Students Reflect on the Value of Think Time 2 (High School Biology Students)

Follow-Up Questions to Extend Thinking

  • Teacher-Prepared Follow-up Questions - Questions planned in advance of a lesson for possible use after the anticipated student responses to a Focus Question that can help clear up possible misconceptions. For example, there might be question(s) that help steer a student to the correct answer.

  • Student Questions - Teachers can build or call “timeouts” to provide students with time for thinking and question formation. Student responses should first be written out as this allows for clarification of thinking. Possible options for sharing out these responses could be as an exit ticket or written in student journals.

  • Emerging Questions - Those that arise during a lesson in reaction to one student’s response to a question or comment. Could be brought up by either the teacher or a student. Questions might cause the initial speaker to self-correct or cause the class to comment or ask additional questions.

Walsh, J. A. (2022). Questioning for formative feedback: Meaningful dialogue to improve learning.

Preparing Students for Success - Incorporating Test Prep

To review additional grade level and content area sample items, click the link below.

Sample Item Sets

K-8th Grade Instructional Minutes by Content Area and Sample Schedules

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Below you can find the new, updated required instructional minutes by grade level and content area. Each grade level also includes a sample schedule.

Content Area Steering Committee Meetings

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April Meetings:

K-12 Math:

  • April 30th at 4:15 pm

K-8 ELA:

  • April 23rd at 4:15 pm


May Meetings:

K-8 Science:

  • May 14th at 4:00 pm

K-12 Math:

  • May 21st at 4:00 pm

K-8 ELA:

  • May 21st at 4:15 pm

9-12 ELA:

  • May 21st at 3:00 pm

K-8 Pacing at a Glance for this Week's Instruction

The documents attached outline K-8 curricular resources, standards and pacing. This can also be found by clicking here on the LSD website.

9-12 Pacing Documents

The document attached outlines 9-12 curricular resources, standards and pacing. This can also be found by clicking here on the LSD website.

Curriculum and Pacing Guides
This link will take you to the LSD's webpage that supports K-12 Instruction. These documents can be found in the Staff Forms site as well.

IXL - eLearning Library

This on-demand professional learning resource provides micro-learning videos about every IXL feature and best practices for implementing IXL. Teachers must be signed into their IXL accounts to access these videos. https://www.ixl.com/resources/elearning-library

Workshop Model Lesson Plan Form to Assist in Planning Lessons

A resource to use as you see fit.

The Instructional Minute Newsletter will be sent out every Tuesday at 7:00am.

Jessica Benavides
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