7:1 Scaffolding

When and Where did I Find it: I come across this word in several articles and texts throughout my undergraduate and graduate courses. The article assigned for this week, Scaffolding students' comprehension of text, by Clark and Graves (2005), explored and discussed this word in novel ways and helped to enhance my understanding of this word.  

What it means: Clark and Graves (2005) discuss several definitions for scaffolding. Some such definitions they cite describe scaffolding as: "a process that enables a child or novice to solve a problem, carry out a task or achieve a goal which would be beyond his unassisted efforts"; "what teachers say and do to enable children to complete complex mental tasks they could not complete without assistance"; and "a temporary supportive structure that teachers create to assist a student or a group of students to accomplish a task that they could not complete alone" (p. 571).

Level of familiarity: I have heard this word numerous times before. As a teacher, the word is used quite often when discussing instructional strategies and planning. I have a solid understanding of this word and what it means in the context of education and instruction.

 Do I want to know this word well and why: I would like to continue to develop my understanding of this word. As I develop my tools as a teacher, it is important to understand what this word means and how it will impact my instruction. I especially would like to explore how scaffolding may look different across the content areas, as well as how it varies between students (based on student needs).



Do I think others should know this word well...if so, who and why: I think teachers are already relatively familiar with this word, especially when considering the role of differentiation and support in the classroom. I think students should be aware of what the word means as well. Students may be more apt to advocate for themselves if they recognize what scaffolding is, what it looks like, and essentially, how it helps them succeed in the classroom.

Clark, K. F., & Graves, M. F. (2005). Scaffolding students' comprehension of texts. The Reading Teacher, 58(6), 570-580.