Description

Instructional scaffolding is an essential part of teaching literacy. But what is scaffolding exactly? What does it look like in a classroom, and how can we improve the ways we use it? Despite its prominence in the repertoire of teaching strategies, scaffolding remains a vague concept for many teachers. In essence, scaffolding is the idea of supporting students as they build independence. In The Construction Zone, Terry Thompson identifies four critical processes to deepen your understanding and improve your practice of instructional scaffolding: Finding and maintaining a specific focus Practicing flexibility in planning and delivering instruction Giving constructive feedback in response to student efforts Monitoring to ensure that, in every moment, students are working at optimal levels of responsibility