When working with advanced students, it’s common to give them lots of choice, freedom, and autonomy. But I learned the hard way that this can backfire.
Students have two levels of ability: Independent and Instructional. Their Instructional ability level is obviously higher than their Independent level. Students will go further when guided by a teacher.
Imagine visiting a national park by yourself and wandering around versus having a park ranger guide you through the park. Obviously you’re going to get WAY more out of it with an experienced, knowledgable guide. I can noodle on the guitar for hours by myself and learn nothing. 30-minutes with a coach and I’ll be at a new level. My 5-year-old can read a more advanced book when dad’s sitting with him than he can on his own. Guides push us farther than we can wander on our own.
But I constantly allowed my advanced students to explore on their own. And this kept stuck at their independent level. They had no guide. What I thought was empowering, actually led to stagnation. When you’re always at your independent level, you stay within your existing abilities. You float along in your comfort zone. A coach or instructor will push your into a new direction that you didn’t even realize existed.
Examples
🚫 Pick two different perspectives and explain how they’d see the story differently.
✅ How would Katniss and Harry Potter see this story differently?
Now, obviously you’d pick perspectives that fit your classroom/content/students. But do you see the difference? By pushing students in a particular direction, it forces them to think in a new way. When asking questions, we want to guide students; not let them wander.
🚫 Pick any book you’d like for your book report, Jimmy.
✅ Here’s a book that I think is perfect for you, Jimmy.
Jimmy probably doesn’t know the best book. He’ll wander. But we can guide him to a great choice.
🚫 Pick any country for your country report.
✅ I want you to prove or disprove this statement: “Japan shows that history may not repeat itself – but it does rhyme.”
The first will lead to a bland, restate-the-facts report. The second task will get my students thinking.
So don’t be afraid to get specific. Don’t be afraid to push your advanced students in a direction. They need a guide!