The New Art and Science of Teaching Writing. Robert J. Marzano

can facilitate student learning. Figure 3.1 presents the self-rating scale for teachers to use.

       Figure 3.1: Self-rating scale for element 6—Chunking content.

      In this section, we specifically highlight these strategies.

      • Using preassessment data to plan for chunks

      • Allowing for processing time between chunks

       Using Preassessment Data to Plan for Chunks

      When introducing new content and information—whether through reading complex text, listening to a speech or video, watching a demonstration, or another way—dividing it into manageable parts offers advantages. By conducting a preassessment, teachers can use the data they collect about students’ prior knowledge to help determine how to chunk the material. If teachers learn that students are somewhat familiar with the information, the amount of content they present at a time can be larger than if it is uncharted territory, in which case smaller sections suffice.