A focused lesson is a more traditional instructional model. Think of a teacher leading a lesson from the front of the classroom.

Guided instruction starts to transfer some of the learning responsibility to the students. This may look like a class brainstorming together to move the lesson forward.

Collaborative lessons ask students to engage with the lesson with very little teacher intervention. A model of this would be small group work in which students work together towards an objective or deliverable.

Independent learning ask students to complete an objective or assignment on their own. This could be a traditional homework assignment, such as a worksheet, that students complete and turn in individually.

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There is no one answer for every class and every grade level. However as teachers we do tend to rely heavily on focused lessons and independent homework. Creating more opportunities for guided instruction and collaborative activities can benefit our students and enrich the classroom environment.

You may benefit from sharing with some fellow teachers your ideas and recommendations for your students. The discussion guide at right can be used to start the conversation on how the 4 instructional types can be used in your school.