The Responsive Instruction Framework
The Responsive Instruction Framework
To skillfully teach multilingual learners isn't about simplifying the curriculum—it's about amplifying access to rigorous, grade-level content.
The Responsive Instruction Framework describes three phases of student learning and highlights the specific decision points where teachers' instructional moves matter most.
Amplify vs. Simplify: What This Looks Like in Practice
During the ACCESS Phase
At the start of a lesson, teachers are making decisions about how to prepare students for new learning.
- How am I establishing clear learning targets and connecting to previous learning?
- What strategies am I using to help students connect new content to what they already know?
- What anchor charts, visuals, models, or demonstrations am I using to make complex ideas comprehensible while maintaining rigor?
During the PROCESS Phase
Once students have accessed new content, teachers are making decisions about how to deepen understanding.
- What reflection questions am I asking to help students process their thinking?
- How am I structuring opportunities for students to engage in meaningful discourse with appropriate language supports?
- What formative assessment strategies am I using to gauge learning and adjust instruction in the moment?
During the SHOWCASE Phase
At the end of a learning cycle, teachers are making decisions about how students demonstrate understanding.
- Am I offering multiple ways for students to show what they know—maintaining cognitive demand while flexing linguistic demand?
- Are my success criteria clear and specific?
- How is my feedback personal, focused on effort, and linked to growth?
The Responsive Instruction Framework
Why This Matters
These decision points aren't just isolated teaching moves—they're opportunities to fundamentally shift how multilingual learners experience grade-level content. When teachers develop their capacity to make these decisions strategically, students gain access to rigorous learning while building the language skills they need.
The Responsive Instruction Framework builds on approaches like UDL and differentiated instruction by helping teachers see where their instructional moves can either amplify learning or inadvertently water it down. It's about upgrading the tires on the vehicle you're already driving—making your existing approaches even more effective for multilingual learners.
During professional learning, we explore these decision points in depth, examine what amplifying (versus simplifying) looks like in practice, and develop teachers' capacity to make these moves their own. The goal isn't to overwhelm you with strategies—it's to help you see where your instructional choices matter most and how to leverage them to amplify learning for all students.
Ready to Explore How This Framework Can Support Your Teachers?
The Responsive Instruction Framework isn't just theory—it's a practical lens for making better instructional decisions every day. If you're looking to build your teachers' capacity to serve multilingual learners while strengthening the work you're already doing, let's talk.
