Today’s educators are held to exceptionally high standards, particularly when it comes to balancing state tests with effective instruction. The pressure and time commitment of standardized testing leads many teachers to cite it as a top concern of the job. Yet these assessments play an essential role in measuring progress and ensuring accountability across schools.
With so much riding on test results, it’s easy to see why instruction can lean toward short-term preparation. But real academic success requires more than test readiness—it depends on lasting mastery and confidence.
Luckily, educators don’t have to choose between test prep and mastery. By ensuring students build essential skills and standards and reinforcing them through the gradual release of responsibility model, teachers can do both. With this approach, students are prepared for assessments while building the deep understanding that sustains long-term growth.
Why Test Prep Alone Falls Short
When we prioritize assessments above all else, it’s easy to get caught up in the thinking that students achieve mastery by passing a single test. But while surface-level knowledge may result in the desired test scores, it does little to move the needle on long-term understanding. In fact, studies suggest that test preparation leads to lower quality and less ambitious instruction.
Teachers need the flexibility to revisit and reteach concepts as needed throughout the year, not just before an assessment. When teachers can continuously reinforce key skills, students get a chance to connect new knowledge with what they’ve already learned.
Plus, the pressure to perform well on state tests takes a toll on students' mental health. One survey found that 76% of New York school psychologists report that students feel significantly more anxiety around state exams than local ones. And that anxiety affects their performance.
By shifting the focus from “teaching to the test” to developing mastery and confidence through a structured learning progression, schools can support sustainable achievement and see test scores improve.
What Is the Gradual Release of Responsibility Model?
Coined by reading researchers Dr. P. David Pearson and Margaret C. Gallagher in 1983, gradual release of responsibility (GRR) is a research-based instructional model where the responsibility of learning shifts from the teacher to the student over time. The goal of the gradual release framework is to build student mastery by intentionally reducing teacher support as students gain skills and confidence in their learning.
GRR begins with teacher-led instruction, shifts to collaborative practice with guidance, and ultimately, independent practice. The framework is often referenced with the shorthand “I Do, We Do, You Do” with the final phase sometimes divided into two:
- I Do: Direct instruction
- We Do: Guided practice
- You Do Together: Small group or partner work
- You Do Alone: Independent practice
The Four Phases of Gradual Release of Responsibility
Phase 1: "I Do" (Direct Instruction)
The teacher clearly explains concepts, models their thinking, and demonstrates strategies. The teacher is 100% responsible for the lesson.
- Example: An ELA teacher introduces a new reading comprehension strategy by defining a theme. She gives examples of themes from texts the students already know and offers strategies for determining the theme.
Phase 2: "We Do" (Guided Practice)
The teacher and students practice together. The teacher may ask questions, provide feedback, or offer scaffolds to check for understanding. The responsibility for learning is shared between teacher and students.
- Example: The teacher reads a short story with the class. She asks the students key questions about what they’ve read to help them figure out the theme together.
Phase 3: "You Do Together" (Small Group and Partners)
The students apply what they learned in a group setting or with partners. Fellow students can enhance their knowledge together. The teacher is available for support, but the majority of the activity is in the hands of the students.
- Example: Students break into groups, each assigned a text to read and analyze. Working together, they use the strategies they learned to determine the theme of their text. The teacher circles the room and is available for support if needed.
Phase 4: "You Do Alone" (Independent Practice)
A student completes a task independently to demonstrate mastery. This may be conducted at home or in the class setting. Performance during independent practice shows a teacher whether the student has grasped the concepts or needs additional instruction or scaffolds.
- Example: As homework, the students are assigned to read a story and determine its theme. They may provide a short-answer response or choose from multiple-choice options for additional scaffolding.
Benefits of the Gradual Release Model
The gradual release model works so well because each phase reinforces the one before it: teacher modeling builds clarity, guided practice deepens understanding, collaboration strengthens application, and independent work confirms mastery.
Implementing the gradual release model makes a positive impact on students and teachers alike:
- Student independence: Students become confident, self-directed learners who can transfer skills beyond a single lesson or test.
- Personalized learning: Each phase offers natural opportunities for differentiation and targeted support.
- Teacher clarity: The framework provides a clear roadmap for instruction, simplifying lesson planning and ensuring balance between guidance and autonomy.
- Standards and concept mastery: Better test performance comes naturally when concepts are deeply understood.
Build Mastery and Assessment Readiness with EPS Coach Solutions
Grounded in research and built on the gradual release of responsibility framework, Coach by EPS empowers teachers to guide students from explicit instruction to independent application with integrated scaffolds along the way. With standards-aligned content, embedded assessments, and flexible formats, Coach is the perfect supplemental resource for any classroom.
Coach solutions give teachers the tools to prepare students in grades 3-8 for high-stakes assessments in ELA, math, science, and social studies, all while deepening understanding, closing skill gaps, and developing lasting academic confidence.
