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TCI Approach

We recognize that every student is unique and that all students benefit from learning in multiple ways.

Therefore, the TCI Approach consists of a series of instructional practices that allow students of all abilities to master key social studies concepts. Our approach is characterized by eight features.

Theory- and Researched-Based Active Instruction

Lessons and activities are based on five well-established theories: Understanding by Design, Nonlinguistic Representation, Multiple Intelligences, Cooperative Interaction, and Spiral Curriculum.

Standards-Based Content

Dynamic lessons build mastery of state and national social studies standards. Integrates hands-on active learning, achieving a consistent pattern of high quality social studies instruction while being mindful of standards.

Preview Assignment

A short, engaging assignment at the start of each lesson helps you preview key concepts and tap students’ prior knowledge and personal experience.

Multiple Intelligences Teaching Strategies

Multiple Intelligences Teaching Strategies incorporate six types of activities: Visual Discovery, Social Studies Skill Builder, Experiential Exercise, Writing for Understanding, Response Groups, Problem Solving Groupwork.

Considerate Text

Carefully structured reading materials enable students at all levels to understand what they read. Recognizes that a successful reading of expository text involves four stages: previewing the content, reading, taking notes, and processing the content or reviewing and applying what has been learned.

Graphically Organized Reading Notes

Comprehensive graphic organizers used to record key ideas, further help students obtain meaning from what they read. Graphic organizers help students to see the underlying logic and interconnections among concepts by improving their comprehension and retention in the subject area.

Processing Assignment

An end-of-lesson processing assignment, involving multiple intelligences and higher-order thinking skills, challenges students to apply what they’ve learned. Helps students synthesize and apply the information they have learned in a variety of creative ways.

Assessments to Inform Instruction

Carefully designed tests encourage students to use their various intelligences to demonstrate their understanding of key concepts while preparing them for standardized tests.

Watch this video to see how one Michigan middle school teacher uses TCI’s Visual Discovery activities to reach all students in his classroom.

Visit TCI events across the nation.