Explaining and Modelling
Teaching with Clarity
Learning must be made visible. Complex ideas become accessible when we use clear explanations, visual supports, worked examples, and the gradual release of responsibility to help students build mental models.
Our First Principles
1. Step-by-Step Clarity
Present new information in logical steps with concise, engaging explanations and visuals.
2. Vocabulary Matters
Explicitly teach and model the use of subject-specific language.
3. Gradual Release
Use the ‘I do, We do, You do’ model to scaffold student learning and independence.
4. Examples and Non-Examples
Show clear examples of both effective and ineffective work to sharpen student understanding.
5. Connect the Dots
Help students see how new knowledge fits into the ‘big picture’ of what they already know and make sense of new information.
Techniques
Command Terms
Teachers explicitly teach command terms (cognitive verbs) so that students understand the cognitive demand of assessment questions and respond with precision, depth, and efficiency.
Concept Maps
Teachers use concept mapping to help students organise ideas, see connections between concepts, and build lasting understanding.
Cornell Notes
A structured note-taking method that helps students organise information, think critically, and study more effectively.
Exemplars
Teachers use exemplars when explaining and modelling to make the success criteria tangible and visible for students.
Gradual Release (I do, We do, You do)
Teachers explicitly teach new content in small steps, gradually shifting responsibility from teacher to student by moving from I do (modelling), to We do (guided practice), to You do (independent practice).
Live Modelling (Make Thinking Visible)
Teachers model the thought processes and strategies needed for success by demonstrating, narrating, and explaining each step of a task.
Narratives and Analogies
Teachers use narratives (short, purposeful stories) and analogies (structured comparisons between a familiar idea and a new concept) to make abstract or complex content more accessible, memorable, and easier to apply.
Non-Examples
We use non-examples to clarify key principles, processes and concepts, through clear comparisons with accurate examples.
Problem Pairs
Teachers provide a fully worked problem alongside a matched problem for students to attempt.
Scaffolds & Templates
Teachers use carefully designed scaffolds as temporary supports that guide students through challenging tasks, building independence.
Vocabulary Instruction
Effective vocabulary instruction goes beyond defining words:
it requires their careful selection, explicit teaching, multiple meaningful encounters, and the deliberate development of students’ independent word-learning strategies.
Worked Examples
Worked examples are step-by-step illustrations of the process required to complete a task or solve a problem.
