Section II.
Classroom Instruction Concept Mastery Critical Questions
In The Academic Disciplines:
Concept Mastery
Note: Unlike the slides for the other sections of the DVD User’s
Guide, the slides for this section are organized by the three
instructional methods presented Unit Organizer, Concept Mastery,
and Paraphrasing. Please edit these to meet your needs.
Essential Background Points
• The Concept Mastery Routine is used to define,
summarize, and explain a major concept and
where it fits within a larger body of knowledge.
Critical Characteristics of
Content Enhancement
• Is a visual device that:
• Both group and individual needs are valued
and met
• The integrity of the content is maintained
• Critical features of the content are selected and
transformed in a manner that promotes
student learning;
• Instruction is carried out in a partnership with
students
What makes the Concept Mastery Routine effective for
diverse groups of learners?
How does the Concept Mastery Routine support the
development of literacy?
Content Enhancement Routines
Content Enhancement Routines are designed
to help teachers think about, adapt, and
present their critical content in a “learner-
friendly” fashion and include inclusive teaching
practices that help teachers organize and
present critical information in such a way that
students identify, organize, comprehend, and
recall it.
The Concept Diagram
– is used under teacher guidance
– facilitates teaching about an important but different concept
– focuses attention on the overall concept
– identifies critical characteristics of the concept
– prompts elaboration based on prior knowledge
– helps students analyze the differences between examples and
nonexamples of the concept
1
 CONCEPT DIAGRAM
The Concept Diagram ➂ Key Words ➀
➁
CONVEY CONCEPT

OFFER OVERALL
CONCEPT
➀ ➁

➂ NOTE KEY WORDS

CLASSIFY
➃ CHARACTERISTICS

• Is a visual device that: Always Present Sometimes Present Never Present

– provides a way for students to practice with new examples

– guides in creating good definitions
– is designed to enhance student ➄ EXPLORE EXAMPLES Examples: Nonexamples:

• understanding of new concepts

• remembering of ways to think about information
• responses to evaluation tasks and activities
• belief in the value of the content ➅ PRACTICE WITH NEW EXAMPLE

TIE DOWN A
➆ DEFINITION

Hierarchical ANALYSIS DISCRIMINATING

PRIOR CATEGORIZATION of characteristics

Important Terms
EVALUATION
KNOWLEDGE

CONCEPT DIAGRAM
➂ Key Words ➀ CONVEY CONCEPT
➁
➀
➁
OFFER OVERALL
CONCEPT
Civil War armed conflict
U.S. Civil
War
➂ NOTE KEY WORDS

CLASSIFY
Concept: A category or class into which events, ideas, or
➃
subjects can be grouped. All members of the came
CHARACTERISTICS

Always Present Sometimes Present Never Present

Northern
• Groups of citizens economic War between
Ireland
•Within a single nation nations
concept class must possess all of a set of critical
religious
citizens About distribution of ethnic characteristics.
power
one nation social
– In social studies, concepts include government, revolution,
political
ethnic
and electoral process.
many nations Examples:
➄ EXPLORE EXAMPLES Nonexamples:

social rights
United States war
between the States World War I – In science, concepts include igneous rocks, vertebrates, and
Desert Storm
Northern Ireland American World War II evolution.
Revolutionary
in Kuwait 1990’s crisis in the War
Balkans “Desert Storm” in Kuwait – In English, concepts include a sentence, sonnet, and simile.
– In mathematics, concepts include triangle, algorithm, and
➅ PRACTICE WITH NEW EXAMPLE

TIE DOWN A A civil war is a type of armed conflict among groups of citizens of a single
multiplication
➆ DEFINITION
nation that is caused by concerns about the distribution of power.

CONCEPT DIAGRAM
➀ CONVEY CONCEPT
➂
Civil War armed conflict
Key Words
➁
Important Terms
OFFER OVERALL ➀
➁ CONCEPT

➂ NOTE KEY WORDS

U.S. Civil CLASSIFY

War ➃ CHARACTERISTICS

Always Present Sometimes Present Never Present

Overall Concept: The category or class into which the targeted concept and similar concepts can be grouped. groups of citizens economic war between nations
Northern
Characteristic: Things that set examples of a concept apart from examples of all other concepts. Other words Ireland within a single nation religious

about distribution of power ethnic

for "characteristics" include "qualities," "traits," or "attributes.“ Concept
social
Example: Individual things, events, ideas, or processes citizens
– possess all of the "always characteristics”
This word or phrase represents
political

– possess none of the "never characteristics”

the targeted concept for the
Examples:
one nation ➄ EXPLORE EXAMPLES Nonexamples:

– may contain some of the "sometimes characteristics“

lesson.
United States war
World War I
between states
Nonexamples: Individual things, events, ideas, or processes ethnic
A concept is a category or
Northern Ireland World War II
– lack at least one of the "always characteristics” OR have at least one of the "never characteristics“ class into which events, ideas,
many nations American
Definition: Includes the following in a complete sentence: or objects can
1990's Crisis in the Balkans
be grouped. "Desert
Revolutionary Storm"
– the name of the targeted Concept in Kuwait
– the name of the Overall Concept social rights War
– all of the Always Characteristics that must be present in all examples of the concept class
"Desert Storm" ➅ PRACTICE WITH NEW EXAMPLE

– any special rule joining the Always Characteristics

in Kuwait
➆
TIE DOWN A
DEFINITION A civil war is a type of armed conflict among groups of citizens of a single
nation that is caused by concerns about distribution of power.

2
 CONCEPT DIAGRAM CONCEPT DIAGRAM
➀ CONVEY CONCEPT
➀ CONVEY CONCEPT
➂
Civil War armed conflict ➂
Civil War armed conflict
Key Words Key Words
OFFER OVERALL ➀ ➁ OFFER OVERALL ➀ ➁
➁ CONCEPT
➁ CONCEPT

➂ NOTE KEY WORDS

➂ NOTE KEY WORDS

U.S. Civil CLASSIFY U.S. Civil CLASSIFY

War ➃ CHARACTERISTICS
War ➃ CHARACTERISTICS

Always Present Sometimes Present Never Present Always Present Sometimes Present Never Present
groups of citizens economic war between nations groups of citizens economic war between nations
Northern Northern
Ireland within a single nation religious Ireland within a single nation religious

about distribution of power ethnic about distribution of power ethnic

Key Words
Overall Conceptsocial social
citizens citizens
political These words
politicalare associated
AnExamples:
Overall Concept is the category or with the targeted concept. Nonexamples:
Examples:
one nation ➄ EXPLORE EXAMPLES Nonexamples:
class into which the targeted concept one nation ➄ EXPLORE EXAMPLES

United States war United States war

World War I World War I
and states
between similar concepts can be grouped. between states They are generated through
ethnic ethnic
Northern Ireland Northern Ireland
brainstorming with students.
World War II World War II
many nations American many nations American
1990's Crisis in the Balkans "Desert 1990's Crisis in the Balkans "Desert
Revolutionary Storm" Revolutionary Storm"
in Kuwait in Kuwait
social rights War social rights War

"Desert Storm" ➅ PRACTICE WITH NEW EXAMPLE

"Desert Storm" ➅ PRACTICE WITH NEW EXAMPLE

in Kuwait in Kuwait
➆
TIE DOWN A
DEFINITION A civil war is a type of armed conflict among groups of citizens of a single ➆
TIE DOWN A
DEFINITION A civil war is a type of armed conflict among groups of citizens of a single
nation that is caused by concerns about distribution of power. nation that is caused by concerns about distribution of power.

CONCEPT DIAGRAM CONCEPT DIAGRAM

➀ CONVEY CONCEPT
➀ CONVEY CONCEPT
➂
Civil War armed conflict ➂
Civil War armed conflict
Key Words Key Words
OFFER OVERALL ➀ ➁ OFFER OVERALL ➀ ➁
➁ CONCEPT
➁ CONCEPT

➂ NOTE KEY WORDS

➂ NOTE KEY WORDS

U.S. Civil CLASSIFY U.S. Civil CLASSIFY

War ➃ CHARACTERISTICS
War ➃ CHARACTERISTICS

Always Present Sometimes Present Never Present Always Present Sometimes Present Never Present
groups of citizens economic war between nations groups of citizens economic war between nations
Northern Northern
Ireland within a single nation religious Ireland within a single nation religious

about distribution of power ethnic about distribution of power ethnic

social social
citizens citizens
political political

Examples: Examples:
one nation ➄ EXPLORE EXAMPLES Nonexamples: one nation ➄ EXPLORE EXAMPLES Nonexamples:
United States war United States war
World War I World War I
between states
Always Characteristics between states
ethnic ethnic
Northern Ireland World War II Northern Ireland World War II
Must ALL be present Sometimes Characteristics
many nations American in every example many nations American
of the concept.
1990's Crisis in the Balkans "Desert 1990's Crisis in the Balkans "Desert
Revolutionary Storm" Are found inRevolutionary
SOME but not all inStorm"
in Kuwait Kuwait
social rights War social rights examples of theWar
concept class.
These are the characteristics used to
"Desert Storm" ➅ create a good definition.
PRACTICE WITH NEW EXAMPLE
"Desert Storm" ➅ PRACTICE WITH NEW EXAMPLE

in Kuwait in Kuwait
➆
TIE DOWN A
DEFINITION A civil war is a type of armed conflict among groups of citizens of a single ➆
TIE DOWN A
DEFINITION A civil war is a type of armed conflict among groups of citizens of a single
nation that is caused by concerns about distribution of power. nation that is caused by concerns about distribution of power.

CONCEPT DIAGRAM CONCEPT DIAGRAM

➀ CONVEY CONCEPT
➀ CONVEY CONCEPT
➂
Civil War armed conflict ➂
Civil War armed conflict
Key Words Key Words
OFFER OVERALL ➀ ➁ OFFER OVERALL ➀ ➁
➁ CONCEPT
➁ CONCEPT

➂ NOTE KEY WORDS

➂Examples
NOTE KEY WORDS

U.S. Civil CLASSIFY U.S. Civil CLASSIFY

War ➃ CHARACTERISTICS
War ➃ CHARACTERISTICS

Always Present Sometimes Present Never Present Examples are instances Sometimes
Always Present that possess
Present all of the
Never Present
groups of citizens economic groups of citizens
Northern
war between nations
Northern
Always Characteristics, economic
none of the Never war between nations
Ireland within a single nation religious Ireland Characteristics,
within a single nation but some of the Sometimes
religious

about distribution of power ethnic

Characteristics.
about distribution of power ethnic

social social
citizens citizens
political political

Examples: Examples:
one nation ➄ EXPLORE EXAMPLES Nonexamples: one nation ➄ EXPLORE EXAMPLES Nonexamples:
United States war United States war
World War I World War I
between states between states
ethnic ethnic
Northern Ireland World War II Northern Ireland World War II
Never Characteristics
American American
many nations many nations
1990's Crisis in the Balkans "Desert 1990's Crisis in the Balkans "Desert
Revolutionary Storm" Revolutionary Storm"
social rights
Can NEVER be
Warpresentin in Kuwait
social rights War
in Kuwait
examples of the concept class.
"Desert Storm" ➅ PRACTICE WITH NEW EXAMPLE
"Desert Storm" ➅ PRACTICE WITH NEW EXAMPLE

in Kuwait in Kuwait
➆
TIE DOWN A
DEFINITION A civil war is a type of armed conflict among groups of citizens of a single ➆
TIE DOWN A
DEFINITION A civil war is a type of armed conflict among groups of citizens of a single
nation that is caused by concerns about distribution of power. nation that is caused by concerns about distribution of power.

3
 CONCEPT DIAGRAM CONCEPT DIAGRAM
➀ CONVEY CONCEPT
➀ CONVEY CONCEPT
➂
Civil War armed conflict ➂
Civil War armed conflict
Key Words Key Words
OFFER OVERALL ➀ ➁ OFFER OVERALL ➀ ➁
➁ CONCEPT
➁ Examples and Nonexamples
Pairs of
CONCEPT

➂
Nonexamples
NOTE KEY WORDS
➂ NOTE KEY WORDS

U.S. Civil CLASSIFY U.S. Civil CLASSIFY

War ➃ CHARACTERISTICS
War
Construct➃ CHARACTERISTICS
the Always
firstPresent
pair of examples and nonexamples so
Always Present Sometimes Present Never Present Sometimes Present Never Present
Nonexamples
groups of citizensare instanceseconomic
that are missing one or nations
war between groups ofcan
that students citizens
easily distinguish between them.war between nations
economic
Northern more of the Always Characteristics and/or have Northern
Ireland within a single nation religious Ireland within a single nation religious
one or more of the Never Characteristics. Then, construct pairs of examples and nonexamples that are
about distribution of power ethnic about distribution of power ethnic
increasingly more difficult to distinguish from each other.
social social
citizens citizens
political political

Examples: Examples:
one nation ➄ EXPLORE EXAMPLES Nonexamples: one nation ➄ EXPLORE EXAMPLES Nonexamples:
United States war United States war
World War I World War I
between states between states
ethnic ethnic
Northern Ireland World War II Northern Ireland World War II
many nations American many nations American
1990's Crisis in the Balkans "Desert 1990's Crisis in the Balkans "Desert
Revolutionary Storm" Revolutionary Storm"
in Kuwait in Kuwait
social rights War social rights War

"Desert Storm" ➅ PRACTICE WITH NEW EXAMPLE

"Desert Storm" ➅ PRACTICE WITH NEW EXAMPLE

in Kuwait in Kuwait
➆
TIE DOWN A
DEFINITION A civil war is a type of armed conflict among groups of citizens of a single ➆
TIE DOWN A
DEFINITION A civil war is a type of armed conflict among groups of citizens of a single
nation that is caused by concerns about distribution of power. nation that is caused by concerns about distribution of power.

CONCEPT DIAGRAM CONCEPT DIAGRAM

➀ CONVEY CONCEPT
➀ CONVEY CONCEPT
➂
Civil War armed conflict ➂
Civil War armed conflict
Key Words Key Words
OFFER OVERALL ➀ ➁ OFFER OVERALL ➀ ➁
➁ CONCEPT
➁ CONCEPT

➂ NOTE KEY WORDS

➂ NOTE KEY WORDS

U.S. Civil CLASSIFY U.S. Civil CLASSIFY

War ➃ CHARACTERISTICS
War ➃ CHARACTERISTICS

Always Present Sometimes Present Never Present Always Present Sometimes Present Never Present
Testing Ground
groups of citizens economic war between nations groups of citizens economic war between nations
Northern Northern
Concept Definition
Ireland within a single nation religious Ireland within a single nation religious
This space is used
about distribution of power
to list possible about distribution of power
ethnic
examples to be sorted into either A definition must include ethnic
the following in a
social complete sentence(s): social
citizens
examples or nonexamples columns. citizens
political political

Examples:
• the name ofExamples:
the Targeted Concept
one nation ➄ EXPLORE EXAMPLES Nonexamples: one nation ➄ EXPLORE EXAMPLES Nonexamples:
United States war
World War I
• the name
United of the
States warOverall Concept
World War I
between states • between
all of the Always states Characteristics and
ethnic ethnic
Northern Ireland • any special rule
Northern joining the Always Characteristics.
Ireland
World War II World War II
many nations American many nations American
1990's Crisis in the Balkans "Desert 1990's Crisis in the Balkans "Desert
Revolutionary Storm" Revolutionary Storm"
in Kuwait in Kuwait
social rights War social rights War

"Desert Storm" ➅ PRACTICE WITH NEW EXAMPLE

"Desert Storm" ➅ PRACTICE WITH NEW EXAMPLE

in Kuwait in Kuwait
➆
TIE DOWN A
DEFINITION A civil war is a type of armed conflict among groups of citizens of a single ➆
TIE DOWN A
DEFINITION A civil war is a type of armed conflict among groups of citizens of a single
nation that is caused by concerns about distribution of power. nation that is caused by concerns about distribution of power.

Activity: Consider the following while

Discussion
viewing the video(s):
• In what ways can the instructional methods
• How did Concept Mastery help the teacher provide the illustrated help students to become active and
type of instruction required to reach each student? independent learners?
• What instructional principles did the teacher use in • How might the instructional methods illustrated help
building mastery of this concept with her students? students manage the information in your content
• How did the teacher’s use of Concept Mastery increase area?
the likelihood that she was promoting the development • How could you use the instructional methods
of literacy for each student in her class? illustrated to give students practice on note taking in
• What suggestions would you make to improve both the an organized and logical way?
learning of critical content and the literacy development • How can the instructional methods illustrated give
of each student? vulnerable students greater access to the curriculum?