Bridging Marzano and SIOP: The Power of Intentional, Inclusive Instruction

At Guided Learning Solutions, we believe great teaching is both an art and a science one that thrives at the intersection of research and heart. Two frameworks that beautifully complement each other in this journey are Marzano’s high-yield instructional strategies and the SIOP (Sheltered Instruction Observation Protocol) model.

While Marzano focuses on what works best to improve student achievement (Marzano, Pickering, & Pollock, 2001), SIOP shows us how to make it accessible to every learner particularly multilingual and diverse students (Echevarría, Vogt, & Short, 2017). Together, they form a powerful blueprint for intentional, inclusive instruction that supports both content mastery and language development.

A Classroom in Action

Imagine a ninth-grade science classroom. The lesson goal: understanding photosynthesis. The teacher begins by clearly stating the objective in both visual and verbal form, a key Marzano strategy and then models the process using a diagram and think-aloud explanation.

To make the content accessible to English learners, she provides sentence frames (“Plants use sunlight to…”) and pairs students in cooperative groups, allowing them to use academic language in a safe, supported environment. As students discuss and create a visual flowchart of the process, the teacher circulates, providing real-time feedback, another high-yield strategy supported by both Marzano and SIOP research.

By combining structured goal-setting, visual scaffolds, cooperative learning, and immediate feedback, this teacher isn’t just covering content  she’s building comprehension, confidence, and community.

Why Integration Works

When teachers intentionally blend these frameworks, lessons become more structured, engaging, and equitable. Students receive multiple entry points into visual, verbal, and kinesthetic learning that allow them to process information in ways that align with their strengths.

Marzano’s strategies give educators the structure and evidence for effective teaching, while learner-centered principles drawn from SIOP provide the language, interaction, and inclusivity that ensure every student can access rigorous content. This integration transforms classrooms from places of passive instruction into dynamic communities of active learning (Marzano, 2007; Short, Echevarría, & Richards-Tutor, 2011).

At Guided Learning Solutions, we’re passionate about helping educators bring these principles to life through professional learning that transforms theory into practice and classrooms into communities of growth.

Because when research meets relevance, every learner has the chance to shine.

References

Echevarría, J., Vogt, M., & Short, D. J. (2017). Making content comprehensible for English learners: The SIOP model (5th ed.). Pearson.

Marzano, R. J. (2007). The art and science of teaching: A comprehensive framework for effective instruction. ASCD.

Marzano, R. J., Pickering, D. J., & Pollock, J. E. (2001). Classroom instruction that works: Research-based strategies for increasing student achievement. ASCD.

Short, D., Echevarría, J., & Richards-Tutor, C. (2011). Research on academic literacy development in sheltered instruction classrooms. Language Teaching Research, 15(3), 363–380. https://doi.org/10.1177/1362168811401155

Written by the Guided Learning Solutions Team

Empowering educators. Elevating student outcomes.