Good Teaching Practices: Gradual Release of Responsibility

I do it. (Teacher modeling)

We do it. (Teacher with class and small groups)

You do it. (Independent practice)

All lessons that teachers design should have this gradual release of responsibility. True learning happens with the help of others and is always intentional.

Here is an organization structure that all lessons should have:

Direct Instruction - Teachers should start every lesson with a learning target and an engaging hook. Students need to know what they should learn by the end of the lesson. Then move into directly teaching whatever the learning target entails.

Guided Instruction - Teachers need to scaffold questions, prompts, and cues to help facilitate student understanding. Small groups are more effective, but whole class can also work. During part of the lesson, the teacher needs to gradually release responsibility to students while walking around and checking in with students to ensure that learning is taking place.

Group Practice - Teachers need to design in their lessons for students to practice in groups to create something related to the lesson. Remember, the keys to effective group work are that students use academic language and are accountable for their contribution to the effort. This part of the lesson should give students practice with a safety net before they go and try it on their own.

Independent Practice - Towards the later part of the lesson, students should apply what they have learned and practice on their own without any outside help. Sometimes independent student work can also double as formative assessments to help check for understanding of the learning target and to identify what will need to be retaught whole class or in small groups. Remember for most students to be successful at this stage in the lesson, they need adequate practice during guided and group practice.

All of our lessons that we sell in our Teachers Pay Teachers store follow these cardinal rules of lesson design.