When students learn something new, like how to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, an expert will “show them the ropes,” so to speak. After that first delicious sandwich, the expert might let the beginner take on more responsibilities, such as getting supplies ready and picking the flavor of jelly. Finally, the beginner makes a sandwich from start to finish independently.
Learning literacy skills in the classroom is as social as learning in the kitchen, and one powerful tool we use to teach reading and writing skills is modeling.