Educational consultant Archer and academic Hughes (special education, Pennsylvania State U.) offer special and general educators a practical guide to using explicit instruction--systematic, direct, engaging, and success oriented--to help students make the maximum possible academic gains. Coverage includes a review of the basic elements, principles, and research on explicit instruction; the application of explicit instruction to skills and strategies, vocabulary and concepts, and rules; establishing a supportive environment and climate for teachers and students; delivering lessons to elicit student responses in small or large groups, monitor students' responses, provide feedback on correct and incorrect responses, and maintain a brisk pace to engage students; and providing appropriate independent practice. Sample lesson plans, examples, and reproducible checklists and teacher worksheets are included throughout the text. Annotation ©2011 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)