Effective Instruction

Effective instruction of students with disabilities draws upon methods or instructional techniques that educators use to facilitate learning. The difference lies in how, when, and why the strategies are implemented. Strategies such as visual schedules, highly structured materials and directions, teaching sequence for simple facts, and sensory-specific activities are some examples of strategies that assist in effective educational design. The document Ten Effective Teaching Principles provides some basic effective instruction guidelines.

An essential element of school-wide effective behavior support is a structured classroom where students are actively engaged in learning, are experiencing a high rate of success, and are receiving strategic, explicit instruction at their appropriate instructional levels. Effective instructional methodologies, materials, and techniques make instruction more active, meaningful, and relevant for all students, and are particularly important for students with emotional and behavioral disorders.