👋 Hi friend!

In this edition of ⚗️DistillED, we explore Small Steps—Rosenshine’s second Principle of Instruction. This principle is about breaking new material into manageable chunks, guiding practice after each step, and ensuring understanding before moving on.

What is Small Steps?

Rosenshine’s second principle is clear: present new material in small, manageable steps with practice after each one. The aim is to respect the limits of working memory and secure understanding before moving on to the next step. Each instructional step is modelled, checked, and practised, so knowledge builds steadily into a stronger, more durable schema.

This process is about breaking content into manageable chunks that respect the limits of working memory. The rhythm is simple: teach a little → everyone practises a little → check understanding → move on a little. Over a lesson (or sequence), these increments build fluency, with scaffolds faded as students become more confident and independent.

For example, a Science teacher might teach contact and non contact forces by…

• Teach a little → Model a clear case of a contact force, e.g., a hand pushing a book across a table. “The force only happens when two objects touch.”

• Practise a little → Students engage in paired talk or draw their own examples of contact forces on mini-whiteboards (pulling a door handle, friction etc).

• Check understanding → Use mini-whiteboards or a quick class poll: “Contact or non-contact?” for a set of scenarios.

• Move on a little → Introduce gravity as a non-contact force—“The Earth pulls objects without touching them.” Students then identify other non-contact forces (magnetism, static electricity).

Rosenshine stresses that teaching in small steps takes time. The most effective teachers spend longer presenting new material and guiding practice, ensuring students master each point before progressing.

So why is this so important? Let’s dip our toes into the research…

Why is Small Steps Effective?

Breaking new material into bite-sized chunks provides the right conditions for learning to stick in long-term memory. Here’s a nice analogy… Think of it as laying bricks for a wall: each one needs to be set firmly before adding the next, so the structure stays strong as it rises. 

Here’s how it works:

• Manages Working Memory: Sweller’s Cognitive Load Theory explains that presenting a little at a time prevents overload and frees up vital mental space.

• Practice Locks It In: Students rehearse each step immediately, strengthening accuracy and confidence.

• Error-Correction Happens Sooner: Misconceptions surface quickly and can be addressed before they snowball.

• Confidence Builds Gradually: Each success fuels the next, creating momentum for tackling bigger challenges.

On a practical level, how do we actually teach in small steps? Let’s look at the groundwork and explore some approaches that make it real in the classroom.

How Do I Implement Small Steps?

To make Small Steps effective, instruction needs to be carefully paced, highly interactive, and scaffolded. Before adopting the routine below, keep these foundations in mind:

• Keep it Manageable: Teach one chunk at a time—just enough to process and practise. (e.g., find 10% before tackling 15%.)

• Model Every Step: Show what success looks like, thinking aloud as you go. (e.g., identify a paragraph’s main idea while narrating your reasoning.)

• Check for Understanding: Don’t move on until most can do it. (Use mini-whiteboards, cold call, or pair explanations.)

• Build in Guided Practice: Let students rehearse each step with support. (e.g., solve one or two problems together, fix errors instantly.)

• Fade Scaffolds: Move from full models → partial prompts → independence. (Loop back with support if needed.)

So, here’s a straightforward routine for weaving Small Steps into your teaching:

A few well-sequenced steps can make the difference between overload and lasting confidence.

Until next time — keep modelling, keep practising, and keep learning secure!

Jamie

Where can I find out more?

Small Steps Planner (Free Download)
To support your use of Small Steps, I’ve created a Lesson Planner Template — a simple, printable framework where you can map out each micro-goal, the model you’ll use, the guided practice, and how you’ll check for understanding before moving on. Perfect for keeping lessons clear, sequenced, and confidence-building.

Checklist and Slideshow

This week’s ⚗️DistillED+ resources are a Small Steps Checklist and a CPD Slideshow. Together, they walk through the WHAT, WHY, and HOW of teaching in small, manageable chunks—showing how to model each step, build in guided practice, check understanding, and extend learning with confidence.

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