Which teaching approach involves modeling and supporting student performance on new tasks?

The teaching approach that involves modeling and supporting student performance on new tasks is guided practice. In this method, the teacher provides direct instruction and models the desired skills or strategies before gradually releasing responsibility to the students. This process enables students to practice the new skills with the teacher's support, which is crucial for developing mastery and confidence. During guided practice, the teacher is actively involved, providing feedback and assistance, ensuring that students can effectively transfer their skills to independent practice later.

Other approaches, such as direct instruction, tend to focus on delivering content in a structured manner without as much emphasis on gradual support during practice. Exploratory learning often encourages students to investigate and discover concepts independently, which does not align with the structured support provided in guided practice. Discovery learning also emphasizes independent exploration and problem-solving, rather than modeling and supported practice. Thus, guided practice remains the most fitting answer, given its focus on modeling and fostering student performance.