Select Questions for Guided Practice

Support gradually releasing responsibility using curricular resources

Jo Lein

Aug 28

Jo Lein's article, "Action Step of the Week: Select Questions for Guided Practice," published on August 28, 2024, provides educators with actionable steps to enhance the effectiveness of guided practice in the classroom. The article emphasizes the importance of aligning guided practice questions with exit tickets to ensure a smooth and effective transition from teacher-led instruction to independent student work. This approach is rooted in the Gradual Release of Responsibility (GRR) framework, a teaching method that gradually shifts the cognitive load from the teacher to the students, enabling them to become independent learners.

The Importance of Guided Practice in GRR

Guided practice is a critical component of the GRR framework, which is divided into four phases: "I Do" (Modeling/Explicit Instruction), "We Do" (Guided Practice), "You Do Together," and "You Do Alone." The GRR model supports cognitive development by scaffolding learning, which helps students gradually move from dependence on the teacher to independent application of skills. This structured approach is particularly effective in improving comprehension, writing skills, and overall content mastery.

Why Selecting Aligned Questions Matters

The article stresses that selecting aligned questions for guided practice is essential for several reasons:

1. Scaffolding Learning: Carefully chosen questions help bridge the gap between teacher-led instruction and independent practice, reinforcing the concepts taught during the "I Do" phase.

2. Developing Student Independence: By gradually reducing support, aligned questions enable students to practice and apply their knowledge independently, fostering confidence and autonomy.

3. Improving Comprehension and Mastery: Aligned questions ensure that students are practicing the right skills, which improves their comprehension and mastery of the subject matter.

4. Meeting Individual Needs: Aligned questions allow teachers to adjust the level of support based on individual student needs, ensuring that all students can progress at their own pace.

5. Assessing Understanding: Aligned questions provide teachers with valuable insights into students' comprehension, allowing them to identify areas that may need reteaching.

Implementing the Action Step

Lein provides a practical action step for educators: every time they plan guided practice, they should select 2-3 questions that closely align with the exit ticket questions. This process involves three key steps:

1. Review the Exit Ticket Questions: Begin by examining the exit ticket questions to identify the key skills or concepts that students need to master.

2. Examine Curriculum-Provided Questions: Look at the questions provided in the curriculum for guided practice. These questions should be carefully selected to match the skills assessed in the exit ticket.

3. Select the Most Aligned Questions: Choose the 2-3 questions that best align with the exit ticket. These questions should serve as a bridge between the instruction and independent practice, helping students reinforce their understanding before moving on to more challenging tasks.

Coaching and Support

To support teachers in implementing this action step, Lein offers a coaching conversation template. This template guides instructional coaches in providing feedback and support to teachers, helping them refine their approach to guided practice. The template emphasizes the importance of practice and planning, encouraging teachers to model the process and rehearse their transitions from instruction to guided practice.

Conclusion

The article concludes by highlighting the long-term benefits of aligning guided practice questions with exit tickets. By ensuring that students have mastered the content before moving on to independent practice, teachers can increase student success and foster a deeper understanding of the material. This approach not only supports student learning but also empowers educators to use their curricular resources more effectively.

Source: Action Step of the Week: Select Questions for Guided Practice by Jo Lein, August 28, 2024.

Original Article

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Prepared with the assistance of AI software

OpenAI. (2024). ChatGPT (4) [Large language model]. https://chat.openai.com