ACPS Talent Development

Professional Learning Website

  • PL Programs
    • Tuition Assistance
    • Technology Integration Education
    • National Board Certification
  • PL Manager (PLMS)
  • New Teachers
  • Mentor Program
  • Pursuit of Excellence
  • Virtual Library
You are here: Home / Coach’s Cuts / Framing the Learning

Framing the Learning

Framing the Learning is a term used to describe best practice in opening a lesson or unit. Typically done at the beginning of a lesson, Framing the Learning usually includes communicating the mastery objective or learning goals to the students, engaging the students in the essential question, connecting the learning to the big ideas of the unit, going over the agenda and activating students’ prior knowledge.


Tips & Tricks

  • Mastery Objectives & Essential Questions: Post or write the mastery objectives, essential questions  and the lesson agenda in the same place everyday. If students come in late, they can quickly check the MO, EQ and agenda and be brought up to speed on today’s lesson without disrupting the learning process of other students. This also eliminates the  need for the “what are we doing today?” question.
  • Difficult Essential Question: If the unit EQ is complex or contains difficult language, create your own essential questions that provide scaffolding towards the actual essential question. Remember the EQs typically begin How, Why or To what extent, are open-ended and should reflect the big ideas of the unit. Refer to the question often and provide multiple examples.
  • Planning: When planning this portion of your lesson or unit, think deeply about the background knowledge and language the students will need in order to begin the learning process. It may be necessary to front-load content or vocabulary to all or some of your students prior to beginning the lesson.
  • Discourse:  Always provide your students with opportunities to talk during Framing the Learning. Students may discuss their answers to the essential questions or chat with their neighbors to surface prior knowledge about the subject or big idea.
  • ACPS Curriculum: The ACPS Curriculum contains a wealth of information that will help you Frame the Learning in your classroom.  To learn more about the reformatted curriculum, watch our Curriculum Video

Tools & Templates

  • ACPS Lesson Plan Template: The ACPS revised lesson plan template specifically provides guidance on Framing the Learning

Related Videos

  • Classrooms in Focus- Explicit Instruction
  • Classrooms in Focus-Student Discourse
  • Classrooms in Focus-Essential Questions
  • Coach’s Cut- Do Now Activator
  • Coach’s Cut- Framing the Learning (alternative primary)

© Copyright 2015 Alexandria City Public Schools · Admin