SIOP Feature 1 Write content objectives clearly for students

Posted by MichealH Alexander on May 20th, 2021

It's by no accident that the first SIOP feature has to do with writing clear objectives.  After all, everything begins with a clear objective.  As you will see, SIOP helps teachers make every objective count.  In fact, it can be said that the first two features of SIOP (writing language and content objectives) set the tone for all other 28 features of Sheltered Instruction Observation Protocol.

SIOP Feature 1 Write content objectives clearly for students

Since everything we do should have its roots in the course content and language, it makes sense that we begin by identifying those objectives first.  This feature challenges us to consider not what we will be teaching, but what the students will in fact be learning.  SIOP asks us to begin our objectives with the acronym, SWBAT (Students Will Be Able To) as a visible reminder of the importance of the learner.

As Caleb Gattegno quipped, "Teaching is subordinate to learning."  Starting off a learning objective with the learner is a good way to set everyone up for success. This is as true for the teacher as it is for her students.

Writing effective objectives supports learning

Believe it or not, the more effective our objectives our written, the greater the chances are that our students will meet them.  Using the SMART acronym helps us make sure we have included the essential elements of effective objectives.  TESOL Trainers provides professional development on writing effective objectives.  Contact John Kongsvik for more information.

TESOL Trainers Remote Professional Development

John Kongsvik and his team of trainers can provide your teachers with remote PD on the role that language plays in the content area classroom. In addition to helping teachers write effective content and language objectives that are SMART, we can show teachers how to structure their lessons and teach them so that students consciously develop their vocabulary base.  Our teacher training sessions are highly interactive.  Our remote PD helps teachers see how to meaningfully engage their students in an online learning environment with simple, practical ideas that any teacher can implement.

SIOP Feature 2 Write language objectives clearly for students

It's by no accident that the first two SIOP features have to do with writing clear objectives.  The fact that writing language objectives is addressed apart from writing content objectives hints at its importance.

Considering the language objective(s) that accompanies each content objective demonstrates how important conscious attention to language development is in the SIOP framework.

SIOP Feature #2:  Write language objectives clearly for students

In addition to determining the content objective, SIOP asks us to turn our attention to the language that is connected to the class content.  Writing a language objective serves two purposes.  First, it makes the teacher (and students) more conscious of the exact language the students will own in addition to the lesson's content.  Rather than just 'winging it' and supposing that students will learn some language, SIOP has teachers decide exactly what that language is.  Secondly, beginning the entire process with clear content & language objectives anchor their importance in planning and teaching.  Indeed, language & content objectives are explicitly mentioned in 5 of the 8 components of SIOP and implicitly mentioned in the rest.

Content & Language Objectives are important to SIOP

Having the content and language objectives help both the teacher and student get off on the right foot.  Since both of these objectives begin with the students in mind (SWBAT or Students Will Be Able To), it makes sense that teachers consider what their students will need in order to attain the objectives that they laid out. 

The beauty of the language objective is it encourages teachers to consciously consider specific language outcomes for the students. 

​Writing effective objectives is challenging.  Ask any teacher.  S/he'll tell you about the struggles in satisfying the requirement.  If you ask an administrator, s/he'll say something similar.