Keeping Conferences Focused and Brief

Whether the focus is on reading or writing, we keep our instruction narrowed to one strategy that will really help move a student forward.

In addition to a narrow focus, we have worked for many years to cull our direct instruction, whether whole-group, small-group, or one-on-one, to be brain-learning-compatible. Until the age of 10, children can maintain focus and concentration for the number of minutes that correspond to the average number of years they are in age. If we keep our instruction limited to this window, retention of information will be maximized. So direct instruction is about six minutes for our 6-year-olds, eight minutes for our 8-year-olds, and so on.

A consistent pattern helps to keep our instruction focused, intentional, and brief. We call it Coaching Toward a Target. This narrative describes the pattern in detail. Keep in mind that the noted times are an estimate and guide only. We don't use a stopwatch or watch the clock. But if you were timing us as you observed a lesson, you'd see that those times align pretty closely with our daily practice.