Positive Framing
Instead of saying, "Stop looking out the window," the teacher says this.
What is, "I need your eyes forward"?
A gentle tap on a student's shoulder or a simple eyebrow raise to redirect their attention without saying a word.
What is a "Nonverbal cue" or "Nonverbal intervention"?
The data collected during aggressive monitoring helps the teacher make this type of adjustment to the lesson in the moment.
What are mid-lesson interruptions or small group pull-outs (reteaching)?
The core philosophy of this strategy is to maximize teaching time and minimize "drama".
Least Invasive Intervention
"Stop talking over students' answers."
What is "Let's ensure every student's voice has a chance to be heard fully."
A teacher says, "It seems that Sara's group has forgotten to straighten up, let's go back and fix that before we leave," rather than, "Sara's group decided to leave their table dirty".
What is "Assuming the best" of students?
A quick, quiet word whispered to a student while circulating the room.
What is a "Private Individual Correction" (PIC)?
When should aggressive monitoring ideally take place in the lesson structure?
What is during independent practice?
When asking students to revise their writing, you can talk aspirations by asking them to "write as though you're in college already" or to "really use the words of a scientist this time around."
What is "Talk Expectations and Aspirations"?
"You need to work on your transitions."
What is "How can we leverage stronger routines to make the most of every minute of instruction?"
When two students are whispering, the teacher says, "I'd like everyone to be paying attention and not talking right now," instead of using their names.
What is "Allowing plausible anonymity"?
A quick verbal reminder given to the whole class, like a call and response, to correct behavior generally rather than targeting a specific student.
What is a "Positive group correction"?
Before monitoring, the teacher should predetermine what quality student work looks like, also known as creating this
What is an exemplar response?
To free up their working memory while circulating, teachers are advised to carry this physical item with them as a reference point.
What is an exemplar (or a monitoring form with key steps/misconceptions)?
"Your directions are confusing."
What is "We can achieve even higher student engagement by making our directions more specific and sequential."
Describing the desired world and drawing attention to the good things happening, such as, "I see five, six, seven hands. Now ten hands ready to start reading Hatchet!".
What is "Narrating the positive" (or "Building momentum")?
Rephrase this statement: "Sit in a place where you can be successful."
What is "Sit at another table where you can pay attention to your work"
Teachers should fight the urge to go to these students first, even though instinct might tell them to help the most vulnerable immediately.
Who are the students who struggle the most (or lower-attaining pupils)?
True or False: When a student is off-task, the first step should be a public, verbal warning.
What is False
"You didn't check for understanding effectively."
What is "Let's explore quick checks for understanding to ensure every student is with us before moving on."
When asking students to revise a thesis paragraph, telling them, "write as though you're in college already" to connect the immediate task to their goals.
What is "Talking expectations and aspirations"?
Name this..."Ms. Evans briefly pauses her circulation and says, "I appreciate the four or five students in the back corner who are tracking their own annotations right now."
What is Anonymous Correction
The teacher should plan for these in advance by considering where students might get confused.
What are potential student misconceptions or misunderstandings?
This aspect of "Positive Framing" means avoiding "toxic positivity" and ensuring all feedback, even corrective, feels motivating and purposeful to the student.
What is "Communicating a belief in their capacity to succeed."
"You're giving too many warnings."
What is "We can create a clear and consistent system where students have a chance to 'do it again' correctly the first time, without needing a warning."