Embedded Files
Overview
Overview
Explicit Teaching is a structured, systematic instructional approach where teachers clearly explain what students need to learn, model how to do it, and guide them through practice with feedback. It removes ambiguity so students know exactly what success looks like and how to get there.
🎯 Why It Matters
🎯 Why It Matters
Provides clear, step-by-step guidance for all learners
Reduces cognitive overload by breaking learning into manageable parts
Builds student confidence through modeling and guided practice
Maximizes the effectiveness of worked examples
Strongly linked to improved student achievement — high effect size in Visible Learning research
Students shouldn’t have to guess what success looks like — explicit teaching shows them the way.
🧠 Strategy Checklist
🧠 Strategy Checklist
🔹 BEFORE THE LESSON
☐ Identify the specific knowledge, skills, or processes to be taught
☐ Develop clear learning intentions and success criteria
☐ Prepare worked examples or demonstration steps
☐ Anticipate misconceptions and plan clarifying questions
☐ Plan for gradual release: I Do → We Do → You Do
🔹 DURING THE LESSON
☐ State the learning goal and explain why it matters
☐ Provide clear, direct explanations in small steps
☐ Model thinking aloud or demonstrate the skill
☐ Use checks for understanding throughout
☐ Guide students through structured practice with feedback
🔹 AFTER THE LESSON
☐ Provide opportunities for independent practice
☐ Offer targeted feedback on practice work
☐ Use evidence of student understanding to plan next steps
☐ Reflect: What parts were clear? Where did students struggle?
☐ Adjust modeling or scaffolds for next time
👀 Look-Fors
👀 Look-Fors
Teacher explains and models concepts in clear, manageable steps
Students are guided from demonstration to supported practice
Questioning is used to check understanding during modeling
Scaffolds are visible (visuals, anchor charts, worked examples)
Students know exactly what success looks like and can explain it
📈Continuum of Practice
📈Continuum of Practice
FOUNDATIONAL
Teacher:
Teacher explains tasks generally but without clear modeling.
EMERGING
Teacher:
Teacher provides some modeling or demonstration steps.
PROFICIENT
Teacher:
Teacher consistently breaks learning into steps, models thinking, and guides practice.
TRANSFORMING
Teacher:
Teacher seamlessly integrates modeling, scaffolds, questioning, and gradual release.
Student:
Students attempt tasks with limited guidance and unclear expectations.
Student:
Students begin to understand the process but need more support to apply it.
Student:
Students understand the steps, practice with support, and build confidence.
Student:
Students independently apply skills and articulate the process and success criteria.
🗃️ Structures
🗃️ Structures
CLEAR LEARNING INTENTIONS & SUCCESS CRITERIA
Make the learning goal transparent and measurable.
“I Can” & “We Will” Statements: Posted and referenced throughout the lesson
Success Criteria Anchors: What it looks like to meet the goal — with student-friendly examples
Pre-Assessment Quick Check: Activate prior knowledge to show where students are starting
Connection to Real-World or POG Skills: Briefly explain why this skill matters
MODELING & THINK-ALOUDS
Show exactly how to think, solve, or analyze — don't assume students already know.
Teacher Think-Aloud: Verbalize thought process (“First, I ask myself…”)
Step-by-Step Demonstration: Break it down visibly, slowly, and with repetition
Color-Coding or Highlighting Models: Annotate as you go to show focus areas
Wrong Way/Right Way Examples: Use common misconceptions to highlight critical thinking
GUIDED PRACTICE WITH FEEDBACK
Bridge the gap between modeling and independence — students try it with you before flying solo.
“My Turn, Our Turn, Your Turn”: Gradually release responsibility during practice
Stop & Check Prompts: Embed pause points to check for understanding before moving on
Mini Whiteboards / Quick Writes: Gauge learning from all students in real time
Live Feedback Loops: Reteach, correct, or clarify during guided practice — not after
INDEPENDENT PRACTICE WITH ACCOUNTABILITY
Give students time to apply the learning — but with structures that promote quality, not just compliance.
Task Aligned to Success Criteria: Practice matches the skill explicitly taught
Self-Checklists or Peer Check Tools: Promote self-monitoring and revision
Strategic Circulation by the Teacher: Target support to students who need reteaching
Anchor Work Examples: Post models to keep expectations visible and consistent
Report abuse