Chapter 7 UbD/DI: Teaching for Understanding in Academically Diverse Classrooms

When you are teaching for understanding you are “uncovering” the content that you are teaching, instead of covering the content or “skim the surface”. If we want the students to get a better understanding of what they are being taught, you need to have the students really dig deeper into the material, and ask them thought-provoking questions that ensure this deep thought process. In the book, the way that I learned the best way to make sure your students are through the WHERETO framework model, while keeping the six facets in mind as well. Through this model, there are seven key points that the students should be getting out of the content to create a deeper understanding for them to carry for years to come. WHERETO is useful for the teachers to be thinking about while preparing the unit for their perspective students, along with keeping this WHERETO model in mind, it is also useful to keep the essential questions in mind. Along with keeping the essential questions in mind, they should also be presented numerous times throughout a unit. This helps to keep the students aware of what they’re learning, and also for the teacher to be aware of what their supposed to be teaching. While in the classroom, I will be sure to use this WHERETO model, with the six facets to ensure my students are gathering the deeper knowledge they come to school to receive.