“I Do It. We Do It. You Do It Together. You Do It Alone.”

The Gradual Release Model is a best practice instructional model where teachers strategically transfer the responsibility in the learning process from the teacher to the students (Fisher and Frey). There are typically four “shifts” of responsibility:

1. I DO IT– where the teacher has a prominent role in the demonstration and delivery of the content;
2. WE DO IT– guided instruction where the responsibility of learning shifts from teacher-directed instruction to student processing activities;
3. YOU DO IT TOGETHER– collaborative learning and student practice in small groups or as partner activities; and
4. YOU DO IT ALONE– independent application of the lesson’s Learning Goals in the Assignment.

Using this model for planning and implementing Learning Activities helps ensure that students have the direct instruction, guided practice, and peer support needed to successfully complete the grade-level Assignment.