What is it?

The Gradual Release model or scaffolded instruction, is broadly recognised as a successful approach for moving classroom instruction from teacher-centered, whole group delivery to student-centered collaboration and independent practice. It is often referred to as the “I do, we do, you do” mode of delivery, which proposes a plan of instruction that includes demonstration, prompt, and practice effectively.

Research tells us that the Gradual Release of Responsibility model of instruction is an effective approach for improving literacy achievement (Fisher & Frey, 2007), reading comprehension (Lloyd, 2004), and literacy outcomes for English language learners (Kong & Pearson, 2003)

How we use it

We use this model to structure all of our lesson content to deliver explicit instruction to students as well as move them towards greater independence in their learning.

By delivering our lessons in this way we work towards building effective teachers, as well as ensuring content is delivered explicitly to set all learners up for independent success.

What is it?

Formative assessment is the process of students and teachers working together to improve student learning outcomes. It is a holistic approach to learning and assessment. Formative assessment supports students' agency over their own learning outcomes, giving them the tools to monitor progress and understand next steps in learning goals and achievements. It doesn't include a formal test or quiz but rather an ongoing process of assessment to better understand individual student needs and how to move their learning forward.

Research by education specialist Professor John Hattie (2012) from the University of Melbourne, has found that ongoing feedback is critical to developing students’ academic learning outcomes and success. Hattie shows that asking students ‘Where am I going, how am I going and where to next’, is critical for future development.

How we use it

At Cleverbean we are big believers in the evidence that supports formative assessment. To strengthen individual learning.

All of our lessons have formative assessment prompts embedded in them, directly linked to a learning intention and success criteria to ensure teachers are able to embed these tools into every lesson.

What is it?

Visible learning is an approach which explicitly highlights what students will be learning in each lesson. It is based on the outcomes of research by John Hattie who worked with students worldwide to understand and identify the best instructional practices that have an impact on individual learning goals and success in the classroom (see Hattie 2012).

Hattie’s work shows that students who understand the learning task and the goal of the lesson are more likely to achieve learning outcomes, working towards rather than just doing.

How we use it

Cleverbean’s lessons have clear learning intentions and success criteria that all map back to the Australian Curriculum to help students make sense of what they will be doing in the classroom.

Following Hattie (2012), we believe that creating clear learning intentions and success criteria is instrumental to actively involving students in their own learning. Our aim is to ensure students have a clear understanding of what they are learning about (learning intention) as well as able to articulate how they can make steps to be successful (success criteria).

What is it?

The Science of Reading is based on a powerful body of research which shows the greatest way to achieve reading success, including the skills required and the part of the brain associated with literacy development.

How we use it

Using this body of research, at Cleverbean we have developed our instruction in phonics and phonological awareness to ensure that we take on an explicit and planned approach to introducing clear and sequential phonics instruction.

For early learners, we use picture books to introduce different sounds and recommend literacy activities to support the introduction of letters including through tactile, craft and play based learning activities.

What is it?

“Teachers are most likely to be most effective when they have students work with the same essential understandings but at varied levels of complexity and with different scaffolding based on the students’ current points of development.” Carol Ann Tomlinson (2013, pp. 6)

Differentiated teaching occurs when a teacher adjusts content to ensure all students can access the curriculum and be successful in their learning. Classrooms have a wealth of different abilities, age groups and behaviours that need to be catered to in various ways. By tailoring content, teachers can help to ensure every child has the ability to shine no matter what the task is.

How we use it

At Cleverbean, we are big believers in creating rich tasks that can be easily differentiated to ensure that all learners have the opportunity to access the curriculum and achieve academic success.

Our lessons encourage and facilitate teachers to embed collaborative tasks, open ended activities, critical and creative thinking and flexible learning spaces. Cleverbean lessons have a suggested way to vary lessons for students needing more support as well as students who need an extra challenge.

This doesn't mean a completely different task or new activity, rather a change to cater for different phases of learning