Four-Part Lesson Framework for Spring ELA Review | Next Step

A four-part lesson framework can make spring ELA review focused, engaging, and efficient while naturally reinforcing skills students will see on end-of-year assessments. Here’s how to structure a full class period using a gradual-release model aligned with Measuring Up resources.

Part 1: Activate, Connect, Preview

Start with a brisk 5–10 minute opener that activates prior knowledge and sets a clear learning target. Keep the language student-friendly and explicitly tied to a standard you know students will encounter on the state test (i.e., main idea, text structure, point of view, or theme).

• Use a short warm-up item similar to your state assessment to surface what students remember from earlier in the year. 
• Preview key vocabulary using quick student-friendly definitions and examples; the catalog highlights academic vocabulary at the start of each lesson in Measuring Up ELA.
• Briefly connect the skill to a real-world context or a familiar text to build relevance and reduce spring fatigue.

This mirrors the introduction section of Measuring Up ELA Student Editions, which connects what students already know to what they will learn and lists academic vocabulary up front. 

Part 2: Model and Think Aloud

Dedicate the next 15–20 minutes to highly structured, guided instruction where you model the skill and thinking process. This is the “we do” section of the lesson.

• Project or display a short passage and 2–3 assessment-like questions modeled on your state test format.Think aloud through each question, explicitly naming strategies (e.g., “First, I underline clues that show the character’s motivation”).
• Use scaffolded questions and hints to steer students toward correct reasoning rather than simply giving answers.

Measuring Up lessons build this phase directly into their design with guided questions, hints, and side-column supports, particularly in the Enhanced Teacher Editions that include tips for striving and English learners. If you’re using Measuring Up Foundations with students who need more support, the “Break Down the Skills” section offers smaller steps and strategic thinking questions ideal for this stage. 

Part 3: Build Stamina and Confidence

Spring review should also strengthen test stamina, so plan 15–20 minutes for independent practice that mirrors state assessment formats. This is the “you do” phase, where you see who can apply the skill without support.

• Provide a short set of mixed-item practice (multiple choice, multi-select, short constructed response) aligned to your target standards.
• Draw these from the ELA Measuring Up worktexts, which include unit practice tests and items modeled on new assessment formats, or from Measuring Up Live if your students have digital access.
• Encourage students to annotate texts and use scratch work just as they would on the actual assessment.

If your school uses Measuring Up Live, the adaptive practice can automatically generate personalized, standards-based questions and a prescriptive path based on earlier diagnostic performance, making this independent phase both targeted and efficient. The large item bank—over 75,000 questions—allows you to assemble quick, custom ELA review sets by standard and difficulty level. 

Part 4: Check Mastery Before Moving On

Close the lesson with a fast exit ticket that aligns tightly to your learning target and mimics the language and rigor of the test. This can be a single question or a very short task.

• Use one high-leverage question, such as explaining how a specific detail supports the central idea, or revising a sentence for clarity.
• Collect on paper or through a short digital item in Measuring Up Live to quickly see which students met the goal and who needs a small-group follow-up.
• Record patterns to inform your next day’s review skill or small-group assignments.

The four-part structure—Introduction, Guided Instruction, Independent Practice, Exit Ticket—is the consistent framework built into both Measuring Up ELA and Measuring Up Foundations, making it easy to replicate across multiple days of spring review.

Using the Framework for a Spring ELA Review Cycle

To turn this into a multi-week spring review plan, choose a tight set of high-priority standards and cycle them through the same four-part structure. 

• Early in the cycle, lean more on Foundations lessons for students with wider skill gaps to rebuild core reading comprehension and vocabulary.
• As students gain confidence, shift to grade-level Measuring Up ELA lessons and unit practice tests to push rigor and stamina.
• For schools with access to Measuring Up Live, schedule regular benchmark-style assessments and use the data reports to group students and assign targeted practice in MyQuest between whole-class review days.

Because Measuring Up lessons all follow this four-part model, you can keep the structure familiar for students while varying texts, item types, and standards to cover the breadth of your spring ELA review.