Gradual Release Model

The goal of comprehension strategies is to help students become independent readers. Comprehension strategies are taught using a gradual release model. This teaching model begins with the teacher leading the learning. When the students are ready, the teacher introduces guided group learning, and slowly releases more responsibility to the students as they learn to collaborate in small groups. Eventually, the teacher will release complete responsibility to each individual student as their comprehension develops and they are ready to learn independently.

 

The key to using a gradual release model is to ensure that students have all the decoding and basic comprehension skills necessary to make the transfer from guided instruction to independent reading. With guided instruction, you have been providing students with a safety net. Reading independently is scary for many students. As you release the students to independent reading, you need to reassure them they can figure things out by applying the strategies they have learned.