Latest Tip of the Week

Before They Can Do It Alone

This time of year, there is so much to teach.

Getting materials. Choosing a book. Walking in the hall. Lining up. Working with a partner. Reading independently.

Some of these routines seem so simple that it can be tempting to assume students already know how to do them.

The truth is, every teacher has a slightly different picture of what success looks like so it's important we clarify our expectations with our students.

Because the moment we assume they know without teaching and practicing, is the moment that behavior breaks down.

That is why investing time in teaching routines now is one of the best gifts we can give our students (and ourselves) for the year ahead.

Before we ask students to do something independently, they deserve to know exactly what success looks like.

For independent reading, we identify the behaviors first: read the whole time, stay in one spot, read quietly, start right away, work on reading stamina, ignore distractions, and persevere.

Then we make those behaviors visible, model them, let students practice, and give feedback based on what we have taught.

These are part of the 10 Steps to Teaching and Learning Independence, and the same process can be used for any routine.

Try This This Week 
Choose one routine your students will use again and again.

1. Name the behaviors that will make them successful.
2. Model what those behaviors look like.
3. Give students time to practice them.
4. Use those same behaviors for feedback as students learn the routine. 
    

A few extra minutes spent teaching a routine now will support hundreds of successful moments throughout the year.

Students deserve that investment. Teach it, practice it, and then watch confidence grow one successful moment at a time.

Gail

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