Guided Practice (Mini Lesson)
The guided practice component of a
mini lesson is the point which teachers INVOLVE students in what is being taught. While
modeling provides one level of clarification of the teaching objective, it is often not enough. Guided practice provides students the opportunity to try out a new skill or strategy before being sent off to try it on their own.
Example: (Teacher says…) We’re thinking about how readers picture, or
visualize, as they read. Listen as I read this line from
Tough Boris by Mem Fox
. Turn to your partner and describe what you see in your head. How do you picture Boris? (While students do this, teacher walks from pair to pair to listen in on conversation in order to assess who is understanding and who is not understanding.)