What is essential for ensuring a child understands a skill before moving to the next teaching step?

To ensure a child understands a skill before progressing to the next teaching step, direct teaching and observation of success are fundamental. This approach allows educators to provide clear, specific instruction tailored to the child's needs, using targeted strategies to teach the skill effectively. By observing the child during practice, educators can identify whether the child has successfully grasped the concept and is performing it correctly. This immediate feedback and guidance are crucial for fostering confidence and competence in the child.

In contrast, standardized assessments may provide snapshots of a child's abilities but often do not reflect a comprehensive understanding of skills or allow for immediate instructional adjustments. Peer assessments typically involve children evaluating one another, which may not be suitable for measuring understanding at individual learning stages. Group performance reviews focus on collective outcomes rather than individual learning, which can be less effective when determining if a specific child has mastered a skill before moving on to more complex tasks.