Presenting syntheses of research on effective instruction in 30 program areas, this paper is designed as a resource to assist teachers in expanding and refining their repertoire of teaching strategies and to guide instructional planning and decision making. For each program area, the paper presents a "finding" (a one-sentence statement on instructional strategies), a rationale (several paragraphs discussing the topic in more detail), and annotations of approximately two to six pertinent references. Topics discussed in the paper include: activating prior knowledge; classroom climate to support thinking; cooperative learning; critical thinking; discussion of controversial issues; graphic organizers; inquiry approach; metacognitive reading strategies; problem-solving approach in social studies; reading, writing, thinking connections; teaching scientific concepts; visual imagery; writing as a process; and writing to learn. (RS)