What is the purpose of guided practice in the classroom?

Guided practice is a teaching strategy designed to provide students with the opportunity to practice new concepts and skills while still receiving support and supervision from the teacher. This stage of instruction typically follows direct teaching or modeling of a skill and is crucial for reinforcing the learning process.

During guided practice, the teacher actively engages with the students, offering immediate feedback and correction as needed. This supportive environment helps students gain confidence and become more proficient in applying what they've learned before they are expected to perform independently. The structure of guided practice allows educators to monitor student understanding in real-time, adjusting instruction as necessary to address any misconceptions or challenges.

Independent learning, as mentioned in one of the other options, is generally expected to occur after a student has had adequate guided practice. In contrast, assessing homework focuses on evaluating what students have already learned, while grading tasks is more related to evaluating completed work rather than facilitating ongoing learning.