The heart of teaching the IgnitED way is PREPARATION. Teachers who teach the IgnitED way prepare lessons that:

• connect to what the students have previously learned
• build from basic to complex or concrete to abstract
• provide clear performance expectations for the students
• present information that is relevant and meaningful to students
• include visuals, examples, and illustrations
• provide a model by the teacher that demonstrates his or her expectations
• do not include irrelevant or confusing information
• include activities that are rigorous, engaging, and support the lesson’s objective
• incorporate material beyond the school’s textbook
• anticipate student learning difficulties
• provide opportunities for peer to peer interaction
• require students to interpret information through problem solving
• include appropriate differentiated instructional strategies