Guided Discovery

If you have ever used Responsive Classroom elements you are probably familiar with the term ”Guided Discovery”.

In my own words, Guided Discovery is a intentional method of introducing classroom materials to students (both everyday materials and special occasion materials).  It is structured in a “Positive Discipline” light (i.e. focusing on what students CAN do rather than what they can NOT do.)
It preemptively answers the questions and quells the statements that can eat up a lot of time in an elementary classroom. Statements like, "My pencil is broken." "I don't have paper" "Where is the glue?"

It also gives students ownership of the classroom materials and nurtures their innate understanding of what is appropriate and inappropriate. For example, if a child is stabbing an eraser with a pencil you can simply ask, "Is that how we are supposed to use pencils and erasers?". The child knows the answer is no, not only because it is obvious, but because the child played a roll in outlining for the class what they CAN do with pencils and erasers.

You can read more about Guided Discovery through the Responsive Classroom website here.

I have been using Guided Discovery in my classroom for the last three years, and trust me when I say it is a GAME CHANGER. It can seem slow and daunting at first, but introducing materials in a methodical way and establishing routines right out the gate frees up a lot of time later on, allowing more time to dig into curriculum and learning.

To help streamline the process, I have created a Guided Discovery packet that I use each year. As such, in my classroom, Guided Discovery looks something like this:
1- Materials are introduced
2-Students complete the personal discovery sheets independently
3- The whole class comes back together and outlines the proper way to use materials on chart paper.
4- When poor choices are made later in the year they are easily redirected with a quick mention of the chart and the question “Is that how we are supposed to use…?”
5- If need, a Reflection Sheet is used for when students make mistakes or need reminders about how to properly use materials.




This method frees up the teacher to not need to imagine the millions of scenarios where things could be misused (ex. I would have never thought that I needed to tell my students not to stab glue sticks with scissors, but turns out, that’s the type of thing that would happened in my classroom before I began using Guided Discovery at the beginning of the school year).
Guided Discovery provides clear perimeters and boundaries in the classroom without over using the terms ”no” and “don’t”, helping to create a positive and safe feeling of community and order in the classroom.



Want to try out Guided Discovery in your Elementary Classroom? Check-out my GD packet on Teachers Pay Teachers to help get you started!

I hope you enjoy and please let me know if you have any questions!
Happy Teaching,
Miss Molly