Time is the hottest commodity in the world of education.
Well, time and Flair pens.
We’ve all found ourselves complaining that our students don’t understand or remember a certain topic or skill, even though we’ve spent hours/days/years/decades/centuries on it. I’ve found that there really isn’t a more effective way to promote full mastery of a complex topic than to use the scaffolding provided by the Gradual Release of Responsibility Model.
The video below outlines the method and shows you how I use it for a nonfiction central idea lesson. If you click HERE you can download an extremely helpful and FREE gradual release planning template. I’ve also written about it a bit, for those of you who are like me and would rather read than view the video.
Gradual Release of Responsibility can be used across disciplines and grade levels. It provides an instructional framework, with each step propelling students toward independence.
Step 1: Direct Instruction
– activates prior knowledge
– teaches and models content/skill
– uses academic vocabulary
– thinks aloud
– observes
– responds
– interacts
You can deliver instruction any way you like. For the central idea lesson, we started by creating anchor charts together.
Then we used a central idea PowerPoint and guided notes. I like to give students a choice of folding notes or Cornell notes.
Step 2: Guided Instruction
– provides prompts & clues
– thinks aloud
-responds to questions
– explains
– praises
– interacts
– asks questions
– responds
Step 3: Collaborative Learning
– confers
-responds
– praises
– corrects
– interacts
– asks questions & responds
For the central idea lesson, I had students work with a partner and I provided them with two opportunities to practice the strategies that we learned. In order to ensure individual accountability, I required that each student complete their own copy of the task, even though they were working together to formulate the answers.
Step 4: Independent Practice
– provides feedback
– evaluates
– sets new goals
– practices
– takes charge
– self-corrects
– reflects
If you would like to see more middle school ELA lessons that include the gradual release method, check them out my highly rated Teach, Practice, Test resources.