In Independent Lessons, students complete reading, writing, and presentations on their own. Teachers ensure that the choices offered for independent work meet the varied levels in their classes. Students experience all of the following in Independent Lessons except:

In the context of Independent Lessons, students engage in activities that allow them to work independently while still being supported in their learning journey. Each of the activities mentioned in the choices typically fosters independent learning and encourages students to take ownership of their education.

Among those options, reading to learn at their instructional levels is often facilitated through guided instruction rather than being a feature of truly independent work. While students may choose texts that appeal to them, the most common format for independent lessons usually involves activities that are more autonomous in nature, like book talks, independent reading, and choice projects, which emphasize self-directed learning rather than instruction tailored specifically to their learning needs.

This distinction clarifies that independent reading, choice projects, and book talks greatly support autonomy and individual exploration in understanding content, whereas reading to learn at instructional levels typically requires some level of guided support to ensure that students are comprehending and appropriately challenged by the material they are engaging with.