Using Scaffolding to Support Student Learning

In the construction world a scaffold is a temporary structure used to support a work crew. In education, the use of scaffolding is not that different. Instructional scaffolding gives support to the student as they’re learning new skills and concepts. According to The Glossary of Education Reform, “scaffolding refers to a variety of instructional techniques used to move students progressively toward stronger understanding and, ultimately, greater independence in the learning process.”

Rebecca Alber, Edutopia consultant, recently published 6 Scaffolding Strategies to Use With Your Students. While scaffolding is similar to differentiation, when teachers scaffold instruction, they generally take the concept they are trying to teach and break it down into smaller parts. This makes it easier for a student to fully understand each piece before moving on - kind of like eating an elephant one bite at a time. Scaffolding, according to Alber, is what you do first with students. Then, if the student is still struggling, that’s when you differentiate.

Here are some scaffolding strategies to try with your students:

• Show and Tell - Modeling is the key word here. Demonstrating what you expect from your students can go a long way in helping them understand challenging concepts. Examples of this strategy include the fish-bowl activity and think alouds.
• Tap into Prior Knowledge - Relating new concepts to students’ existing knowledge and experiences is a classic scaffolding technique.
• Give Time to Talk - All learners need time to be able to process new ideas and information. The use of a think-pair-share or other structured discussion time can be helpful for students as they digest these new ideas.
• Pre-Teach Vocabulary - “Pre-teaching vocabulary doesn't mean pulling a dozen words from the chapter and having kids look up definitions and write them out. Instead, introduce the words to kids in photos, and in context to things they know and are interested in. Use analogies, metaphors and invite students to create a symbol or drawing for each word and give time for discussion of the words.”
• Use Visual Aids - Using graphic organizers, pictures, and charts are great ways to help students grasp concepts. These visual aids are not the end result, but a tool to help students look at information a little at a time in order to understand the big picture.
• Pause, Ask Questions, Pause, Review - Question and discuss. Give students time to think. Repeat. This is a great way to check for comprehension and help them remember important information.

Pepper has released a new workshop titled Making Social Studies Come Alive as part of it’s new Pepper Online Workshop (POW!) content. This workshop will focus on providing teachers with multiple scaffolding strategies for engaging students in Social Studies. Teachers will learn to help students take ownership of classroom learning in order to deepen their understanding of sometimes difficult or challenging Social Studies texts. You can check all of our new POW content by visiting the Courses and Workshops section on your dashboard.