Teaching to the standards is an effective way to ensure consistency and clarity in your instruction. When student progress is measured against a clearly defined set of standards, both teachers and students understand exactly where they stand.
But instruction is just one part of the process. Delivering standards-based instruction doesn’t guarantee that students will actually master those standards.
Mastery is a key component of standards-based instruction, as teachers are expected to ensure mastery before moving on to the next content. But if students don’t achieve mastery, they won’t progress through their learning goals.
While academic standards establish what students should know and be able to do, educators also need tools to help students learn, apply, practice, and demonstrate those skills. Research consistently points to the importance of explicit instruction, guided practice, independent practice, formative assessment, and ongoing feedback in helping students reach mastery.
When these elements work together, educators can create a path from standards-based instruction to student achievement.
5 Building Blocks of Student Mastery
Educators can guide students from instruction to achievement by pairing standards-aligned teaching with meaningful opportunities for practice, assessment, and feedback. These elements work together in an integrated manner to support student learning and inform instructional decision-making.
Explicit instruction
The foundation of academic learning is explicit instruction. Students need clear, direct instruction to develop the knowledge and skills identified by grade-level standards. Explicit instruction gives teachers an opportunity to introduce new concepts, model skills, explain thinking, and make expectations clear.
Guided practice
Guided practice is the bridge from understanding to doing. Instead of immediately assigning independent work, educators support students as they begin to put their learning into action. As students work through problems or tasks, teachers observe their thinking, address misconceptions, and provide guidance.
Independent practice
When students are ready to work without teacher support, they can reinforce what they've learned and determine whether they can apply a skill on their own. Practicing skills independently gives students the opportunity to strengthen their understanding and build the skills needed to demonstrate proficiency.
Formative assessment
During the learning process, educators should use frequent comprehension checks to make sure students are understanding the lesson. A formative assessment can be as simple as asking the class a question. Teachers can then respond in the moment if students are not grasping the content as expected. Formative assessments give valuable information about both the quality of the instruction and individual student needs.
Ongoing feedback
Just as teachers need feedback from students in the form of assessments, students need feedback from teachers to learn and grow. Giving students regular, encouraging feedback helps them address gaps and build confidence. Students shouldn’t have to wait until they fail a test to learn where they can improve.
Bring Everything Together with Performance Coach
Guided practice, independent practice, and assessment all play critical roles in helping students achieve mastery. Together, these elements create an instructional cycle that supports learning, informs teaching and support, and helps students progress toward mastery.
Performance Coach supports this instructional process by providing standards-based direct instruction, guided and independent practice, assessment preparation, and progress monitoring tools. The supplemental program builds student mastery in ELA and math to help students in grades 3-8 overcome learning obstacles, excel on state tests, and develop lasting academic success.
Learn how Performance Coach can help your school move students from standards-based learning to mastery. Connect with an expert.
