Effective mini-lessons are 15 minutes long, follow a 4-step rhythm, and progress through the gradual-release model. Whether you’re teaching comprehension strategies or writing skills, the same 4-step architecture is the gold standard for planning and delivering whole-class instruction.
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Step 1: Introduce
Within the first 30 seconds of the lesson, reveal what skill you plan to teach using the accurate academic vocabulary term (e.g., We are going to learn how to infer a character’s perspective.).
Lessons are mini, so keep the focus narrow. A mini-lesson addresses a small, granular facet of a complex, grade-level skill.
When a lesson is narrowly focused, it won’t take more than 30 seconds to introduce it.
Step 2: Instruct & demonstrate the skill
The second step is the longest and most important part. Spend the next five minutes defining the skill and describing how it works.
While specifically and explicitly explaining how the skill works, capture this information onto an anchor chart DURING the lesson. This will be valuable for students to reference even AFTER the lesson.
Although each lesson lasts 15 minutes, you will only deliver about 5 minutes of new content each day. That’s because after telling the students about the skill in Step 2A, then you (the teacher) model how it works in Step 2B.
While demonstrating the skill live in front of the students during Step 2B, describe your thinking process along the way. Talk through how you wrestle with and ultimately apply the skill.
It is crucial that you plan out this portion of the mini-lesson. If you attempt to wing it, the mini-lesson will likely go long and/or you will start asking questions of the class. When this happens, the I do bleeds over into Step 3 (i.e., We do) prematurely. Step 2 is all about teaching the thinking.
The students have a role during this teacher-only model—to simply watch and listen. However, while pausing, hesitating, and troubleshooting in a Think Aloud, often students want to help you.
For those who raise their hands during the I do, ignore them. Don’t call on them. Tell them to put their hands down. This model isn’t necessarily for the 2-3 students who can help you but for the other 25 students who don’t know how to do the skill at all.
Although students are to merely watch and listen during Step 2B, we do want their help in Step 3.
Step 3: Interact with the skill
The next five minutes includes you, the teacher, applying the same skill in a second sentence, example, or excerpt.
Make sure to point out all of the key points you demonstrated in Step 2B—but this time, pause before giving “the answer.” Invite students to Turn and Talk—and then eavesdrop on their responses.
Anticipate that their first attempts may be weak and/or wrong. Consequently, share out what you heard, massaging their ideas to create a strong example.
Treat the We do with the same attention that you gave the I do. In other words—plan it out. Anticipate that you will do most of the work because they are still in the early learning stages of the skill. This We-do segment of a mini-lesson is more precisely characterized as I do again; you help me.
After the I do (Step 2B) and the We do (Step 3), it’s time to announce the You do (Step 4).
Step 4: Close & transition the skill
Step 4 is only about 30 seconds and includes two components. First, restate the lesson’s focus and then describe the You-do task. What do you want students to do with the skill now that the lesson is over?
When planning what you want students to do, consider that they can’t necessarily execute this new and complex skill independently just yet. Therefore, don’t immediately make this an all-by-yourself assignment.
Instead, provide several You-do opportunities for students to work through the skill in small groups or pairs—and always in class—where you are nearby to provide lots of support. After the skill is refined and practiced with teacher guidance, then it becomes an independent You do.
The next day
The same target skill is the focus on whole-class instruction for several days. And each day, the same 4-step architecture is followed.
Throughout a multi-day mini-lesson series, you will shape and layer students’ knowledge about the skill in Step 2A and demonstrate that little bit more in Step 2B (i.e., I do) and Step 3 (i.e., We do). Therefore, each day the students become more confident with the skill and will be ready for more independent You-do assignments and eventually assessments.
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