Gradual Release Model:

MAIN VOCAB

  1. Gradual Release Model: teaching strategy characterized by a sequence of learning activities that shift the responsibility from the teacher to the student 

  2. Direct Instruction: the instructor is actively engaging with the students. Items are instructor-led. 

  3. Guided Instruction: occurs after a teacher has taught students a new concept. Then the students can move onto guided practice, where they work independently on the new topic – but teacher is ready to assist throughout the lesson

  4. Collaborative Learning: students work together in groups to find solutions, create products, or gain understanding – can be used during any of the other types of instruction. (ie. experiments and small groups also allow for guided practice…) 

  5. Independent Practice: teacher encourages students to perform a task independently and the teacher’s role is to facilitate

  6. Scaffolding: a teaching method that involves breaking down learning into manageable chunks and providing support to help students learn – gradually remove support as students develop more competency 

  7. ZPD : (Zone of Proximal Development) the difference between what a learner can do without help and what they can do with guidance and encouragement from a skilled partner







  1. What the gradual release of responsibility model implies: 

  • There is something new unmastered (and hopefully worth mastering)

  • The learner is working within their ZPD – the work can be done with the support of a “more knowledgeable other” (show me)

  • There is an ‘MKO’ available and attentive to the personalized learning needs of the learner (help me)

  • Crucially, the goal is independent application (let me)



  1. Basic sequence of the gradual release model 

  • Direct instruction 

  • Guided Instruction

  • Collaborative learning

  • Independent Practice







  1. Direct Instruction: the instructor is actively engaging with the students. Items are instructor-led. 

  • Ie. Question & answer, discussion, lecture, demonstrations



  1. Guided Instruction: occurs after a teacher has taught students a new concept. Then the students can move onto guided practice, where they work independently on the new topic – but teacher is ready to assist throughout the lesson

  • Ie. Graphic Organizers, experiments, small groups 



  1. Independent Practice: teacher encourages students to perform a task independently and the teacher’s role is to facilitate



  1. Collaborative Learning: students work together in groups to find solutions, create products, or gain understanding – can be used during any of the other types of instruction. (ie. experiments and small groups also allow for guided practice…)