Deliberate Practice

What is Deliberate Practice?

One of the most valuable things a teacher can do to prepare for excellence is practice.

At Relay, we believe that practice helps Residents by creating muscle memory in concrete teaching techniques and building clarity and confidence in lesson delivery. Deliberate Practice — a focus on the concrete and specific teaching skills necessary to maximize impact in the classroom — is a cornerstone of the Resident training experience. Traditionally, Residents participate in weekly 2.5-hour practice sessions each via Zoom, our video conferencing system.

These practice sessions complement and support Relay’s coursework. For example, in conjunction with Relay classroom-management courses, Residents practice responding to common classroom management scenarios by applying techniques and strategies they learn in their coursework. Residents review instructional video, participate in short bursts of practice to isolate particular teaching techniques, and deliver portions of upcoming lessons. Throughout the practice session, Deliberate Practice Coaches provide ample individual feedback to Residents, asking them to apply that feedback and “do it again” to increase effectiveness over time. Read more about our vision, HERE.

Want to see it in action? View the video to Learn more!

Pillar 2: Gateways