Direct Instruction: every skill taught to mastery

Model, lead, test

Every new skill follows the same three moves:

1. Model. “Watch me do it.”
2. Lead. “Let’s all do it together.”
3. Test. “Now show me how you can do it.”

Then the class practices until the skill is firm, and only then moves on. The method draws on the work of Siegfried Engelmann, Douglas Carnine and Ogden Lindsley, and it is the second of CCS-America's Three Laws: “Teach each step to mastery, and every child will learn.”

Why it matters for your child

Mastery gives children something to celebrate. The joy of getting a step right, with encouragement for their effort, helps them approach the next challenge with confidence.

When a child struggles, the lesson is treated as the problem to solve, not the child. Principals walk classrooms daily and coach teachers on exactly these moves.