Now in its 3rd edition, Better Learning Through Structured Teaching is the definitive guide to the gradual release of responsibility--an instructional framework any teacher can use to help students to be more successful and self-directed learners.
To gradually release responsibility is to equip students with what they need to master content and develop new competencies. On a day-to-day basis, it means delivering lessons intentionally structured to incorporate four interrelated phases:
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Focused Instruction (I do it) that sets students up for cognitive apprenticeship by establishing lesson purpose, modeling strategies and skills, and sharing information and insight.
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Guided Instruction (We do it together) that incorporates targeted prompts, cues, and questions to scaffold understanding.
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Collaborative Learning (You do it together) that allows students to consolidate and extend understanding through accountable group tasks built on discussion and cooperative problem solving.
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Independent Learning (You do it alone) that provides students opportunities to practice and apply the skills and knowledge they've acquired to create authentic products and ask new questions.
Authors Douglas Fisher and Nancy Frey detail the components of each phase, sharing proven strategies and real-life examples. You'll find a variety of useful tips for classroom implementation, along with new guidance on teacher credibility, social-emotional learning, and embedding assessment throughout all four phases. No matter what grade level or subject you teach, Better Learning Through Structured Teaching is an essential resource for improving your practice and empowering your students.
Douglas Fisher is a professor of educational leadership at San Diego State University and a teacher leader at Health Sciences High & Middle College. He is a member of the California Reading Hall of Fame and was honored as an exemplary leader by the Conference on English Leadership. He has published numerous articles on improving student achievement, and his books include
The Purposeful Classroom: How to Structure Lessons with Learning Goals in Mind; Enhancing RTI: How to Ensure Success with Effective Classroom Instruction and Intervention; Checking for Understanding: Formative Assessment Techniques for Your Classroom; How to Create a Culture of Achievement in Your School and Classroom; and
Intentional and Targeted Teaching: A Framework for Teacher Growth and Leadership. Nancy Frey is a professor of educational leadership at San Diego State University. Frey also teaches classes at Health Sciences High & Middle College in San Diego. She is a recipient of the Christa McAuliffe Award for Excellence in Teacher Education from the American Association of State Colleges and Universities and the Early Career Award from the Literacy Research Association. She has published many articles and books on literacy and instruction, including Productive Group Work: How to Engage Students, Build Teamwork, and Promote Understanding; The Formative Assessment Action Plan: Practical Steps to More Successful Teaching and Learning; and Guided Instruction: How to Develop Confident and Successful Learners.
