In the last decade considerable attention has been directed to the question of how teachers may increase the academic performance of their students. This monograph summarizes the research findings and suggests some underlying principles of effective instruction. Recent research has reinforced findings that teachers who adopt the principles of direct instruction increase the academic engagement time of students, and this leads to greater achievement. Teachers who focus on academic goals, structure learning activities, and provide clear academically oriented feedback create a businesslike learning environment which enhances time on task and achievement. This monograph introduces the basic principles of effective instruction and lists selected sources which provide concise summaries of more recent research reports. Also included is a list of 191 selected references. (JD)