Uploaded February 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
By explicitly modeling each step of a problem and gradually fading away supports, teachers can give students a clear path to mastering new content.
It’s a familiar moment in math class—students are asked to solve a problem, and some jump in confidently while others freeze, unsure where to begin. When students don’t yet have a clear mental model for how a problem works, asking them to “figure it out” can lead to confusion rather than understanding. In fourth-grade teacher Susan Hamilton’s classroom at Lincoln Elementary School in Delta, Colorado, that uncertainty is addressed through a strategy called worked examples.
Our How Learning Happens video series explores teaching practices grounded in the science of learning. To see more, visit edutopia.org/package/how-learning-happens-instructional-shifts
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#brainbasedlearning #teachingstrategies #math #howlearninghappens #learningscience
© 2026 George Lucas Educational Foundation
By explicitly modeling each step of a problem and gradually fading away supports, teachers can give students a clear path to mastering new content.
It’s a familiar moment in math class—students are asked to solve a problem, and some jump in confidently while others freeze, unsure where to begin. When students don’t yet have a clear mental model for how a problem works, asking them to “figure it out” can lead to confusion rather than understanding. In fourth-grade teacher Susan Hamilton’s classroom at Lincoln Elementary School in Delta, Colorado, that uncertainty is addressed through a strategy called worked examples.
Our How Learning Happens video series explores teaching practices grounded in the science of learning. To see more, visit edutopia.org/package/how-learning-happens-instructional-shifts
Join the Edutopia community today to get articles, videos, and more delivered via email every Wednesday—all tailored to you and your unique role: edut.to/3wEVHUh
*Follow us here:*
Official Website: https://edutopia.org
YouTube: youtube.com/c/edutopia
Facebook: facebook.com/edutopia
Instagram: instagram.com/edutopia
BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/edutopia.org
#brainbasedlearning #teachingstrategies #math #howlearninghappens #learningscience
© 2026 George Lucas Educational Foundation
