In designing a literacy block, which structure best supports gradual release of responsibility?

• A. A structure that emphasizes independent work first and then modeling
• B. A structure that emphasizes teacher modeling only
• C. A gradual release where the teacher models (I do), then thinks aloud with guided practice (We do), followed by independent practice (You do), and finally independent application with feedback.
• D. A structure where students lead all instruction

Answer: (C)

Gradual release of responsibility means moving from teacher-led instruction to student independence, with feedback at each stage. In a literacy block, you want the sequence to show the strategy in action, then practice with support, then practice on their own, and finally apply it with guidance.

This option fits best because the teacher first models the strategy and demonstrates the thinking process (I do), then guides students through practice with shared thinking and support (We do), followed by independent practice where students apply the skill on their own (You do), and ends with independent application that includes feedback to help improve and solidify the skill. This progression ensures students observe, participate with scaffolds, and gradually take full responsibility for their learning while receiving ongoing feedback.

Starting with independent work would skip essential modeling; focusing only on modeling misses opportunities for guided practice and feedback; having students lead all instruction would remove the scaffolding and support that help students develop literacy strategies effectively.