Teaching Direct Instruction (DI) is a skill that grows stronger with practice. Especially in the early levels, teachers are balancing multiple elements at once, delivering lessons clearly, maintaining an engaging pace, monitoring student responses, and providing immediate feedback. With the right coaching support, these skills quickly become natural and highly effective.

Short, focused practice, just 10–15 minutes a day, can make a meaningful difference. Rehearsing lesson delivery, anticipating student responses, and practicing error correction help teachers build confidence and fluency, leading to stronger outcomes for students.

Ongoing support is key. Collaborative in-service sessions give teachers the opportunity to refine specific skills, such as:

• guiding students to mastery
• making smooth transitions between tasks and groups
• responding effectively to errors
• keeping students motivated and engaged
• monitoring and supporting independent work

While DI provides clear structure and guidance, it’s the combination of preparation and practice that brings students to mastery. As teachers build fluency in their presentation, they’re able to focus more fully on their students, creating responsive, engaging classrooms where all learners can succeed.