ScaffoldingSTEPHANIE SCHRAGEN

JEN FARTHING

JENNA MAYER

What is Scaffolding? Scaffolding is an instructional technique in which a teacher or

adult provides a visual, verbal or kinesthetic support to a student who is learning a new concept or task.

As the learner’s understanding progresses, parts of the scaffold are removed.

Once the learner masters the skill or concept independently, the scaffold is completely removed. (MMSD Literacy Notebook)

Another Visual of Scaffolding

Inaccessible Task:What a student can’t

yet do.

Scaffolded Learning:

What a student can do with support.

Solo Learning:What a student can

already do independently.

Examples of Scaffolding1. Model it

Helps visual learners understand the topic

2. Tap into Prior Knowledge Build on prior knowledge to promote deeper understanding

3. Give Time to Think and Talk Helps with understanding and processing information

4.Pre-Teach Vocab (use analogies, metaphors, drawings, actions) Helps visual learners and keeps students engaged and interested

5. Verbal Aids (use pictures, charts, graphic organizers) Helps visual learners stay engaged; easier way to help with memorization

6. Pause, Ask Questions, Pause, and Review Allows educators to check for understanding while students read

(Edutopia)

Scaffolding in Elementary Grades

Clink the video link below (or copy & paste into your browser)

https://www.dropbox.com/s/fohbuv89ui9uepj/IMG_3255%20%285%29.MOV?dl=0

Video and Scaffolding Explanation: This video demonstrates a scaffold for reading instruction in Jenna Mayer’s 1st

grade classroom. Rhodi is a struggling reader. He has a hard time distinguishing between the “short i” and “short e” sounds. You’ll see Jenna provide a short i/e scaffold during this video.

You’ll notice Rhodi itches his arm when Jenna asks him to tell her the “short i” sound. This is because Jenna uses a kinesthetic scaffold. They use the “iiiiiitchy” motion on the arm, and say the “short i” sound together.

You can’t see Rhodi’s “short e” motion, but you can hear the sound. As he’s saying “short e,” he’s sliding his finger along the “eeeeeeedge” of the table.

This is an example of scaffold because Rhodi cannot yet read this text independently. However, with Jenna’s verbal and kinesthetic scaffold, Rhodi is able to read most of the story.

Scaffolding in Middle School

Click the following link (or paste it in your browser) to see a vocabulary lesson using 2 distinct scaffolding techniques.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Sw9HqPBHsA

The Scaffolds in this video include: Word Wall Scaffold-students can use the word wall as a support.

Kinesthetic Scaffold-Students perform actions to go along with each vocabulary word. This deepens the level of understanding for each word. And kids seem to be having fun in their learning.

Scaffolding in High School

Click the following link (or paste it in your browser) to see a lesson on character development in language arts.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NtXn9JaxcTA

The Scaffolds in this video include: Using the flip board notes as a support to remember what they

covered and see where they’re going.

Peer learning to reinforce what they’ve learned so far and to help bring absent students up to speed.

Summarizing the themes for today’s lesson.

Scaffolding with Adults

Adults use scaffolds, or supports, all the time without realizing it.

Jenna’s husband recently built a picnic table and he utilized a scaffold (step-by-step instructions) to support his build. The following link will bring you to the instructions he used.

http://ana-white.com/2011/03/hexagon-picnic-table

Here’s the end result

Scaffolding and Zone of Proximal Development

Lev Vygotsky defines the Zone of Proximal development as, “the gap between the [learner’s] current or actual level of development and the [learner’s] potential level of development,”

(as cited in MMSD Literacy Notebook, 2001).

(MMSD Literacy Notebook)

8 Guidelines for Teachers Developing Scaffolding Lessons1. Focus on an objective and the skills needed to achieve that

objective

2. Define a common goal

3. Identify individual needs of the student

4. Provide the appropriate scaffold for instruction

5. Encourage students to remain focused

6. Monitor and provide clear feedback

7. Create a safe learning environment

8. Eventually remove the scaffold to promote independent learning

(Learn NC)

Keys Element of Scaffolding

1. Provides Clear Direction

2. Clarifies Purpose

3. Keeps Students on Task

4. Offers Assessments to Clarify Expectations

5. Points Students to Worthy Sources

6. Reduces Uncertainty, Surprise, and Disappointment

7. Delivers Efficiency

8. Creates Momentum

(Learn NC)

Advantages of Scaffolding Provides support to learners so that they can achieve what alone

would have been too difficult.

Helps provide accommodations to students with different learning styles

Fosters individualized instruction

Keeps students engaged and makes learning more fun

Gives students opportunities to be successful when learning new material

Builds confidence and decreases learning frustration.

(Learn NC)

Disadvantages of Scaffolding

Can create more work for the educators as it takes time to come up with appropriate scaffolds for each individual.

Some scaffolds require training before implementing Can be difficult for educators to organize and keep

students focused Lack of sufficient personnel

(Learn NC)

Scaffolding with Social Media

You can incorporate social media tools to organize and implement different scaffolding techniques in your teaching. Take advantage of the following resources:

Blogs-great tool for ideas

Online Journals-discover new, research-based practices

Videos-watch how to implement a method of scaffolding

Facebook-connect with others in your field

Pinterest-great visual tool for ideas

References Alber, R. (2014). Edutopia. “6 Scaffolding Strategies to Use with your

Students.” Retrieved from: http://www.edutopia.org/blog/scaffolding-lessons-six-strategies-rebecca-alber

Coffey, H. (ND). Learn NC. UNC School of Education. “Scaffolding.” Retrieved from: http://www.learnnc.org/lp/pages/5074

Esser, D., Gleason, C., Kolan, T. Lucas, P., Rohde, J., & Anderson, C. (2006). Madison metropolitan school district's primary literacy notebook (2nd ed.). Madison, WI. 

Firestone, M. (2014). Education Portal. “Scaffolding in Education: Definition, Theory, and Examples.” Retrieved from: http://education-portal.com/academy/lesson/scaffolding-in-education-definition-theory-examples.html#lesson

Puntambeker, S. (2009). Education.com. “Scaffolding.” Retrieved from: http://www.education.com/reference/article/scaffolding/

West, A. Swanson, J. & Lipscomb, L. (2014). University of Georgia. “Scaffolding.” Retrieved from: http://epltt.coe.uga.edu/index.php?title=Scaffolding#What_is_Scaffolding.3F