Understanding Your Instructional Power with Tanji Reed Marshall | The LP: EP 14

A truth that remains in the United States is that teaching is one of the most underappreciated professions in the country, financially and intellectually, as teachers are often cut out of decisions about what to teach and how to teach on a larger scale. As we advocate to reclaim the power taken, it’s important to analyze the power given, which can still seriously impact the quality of instruction in classrooms. I got a chance to build with Dr. Tanji Reed Marshall and discuss her book Understanding Your Instructional Power: Curriculum and Language Decisions to Support Each Student. Join us as we discuss the power overlooked within a profession undervalued and how it can be used to provide grade-level, engaging, affirming, and meaningful instruction.

Key Takeaways

• Examine your own biases and beliefs. Teachers need to reflect deeply on their own identities, experiences, and biases to understand how they impact their instructional choices and treatment of students.
• Instruction and classroom management are intertwined. They cannot be separated into silos – teachers are constantly managing both student behavior and content delivery simultaneously.
• All teachers have instructional power. Even with scripted curriculums, teachers make impactful choices about how they deliver content, give feedback, and engage with students that reflect their beliefs.
• Create an inclusive learning environment. Teachers should involve students in the learning process, be aware of stereotype threats, and use language/practices that make all students feel valued and affirmed in their identities.