Scaffolding

Too much scaffolding creates DEPENDENCE

Too little Scaffolding creates FRUSTRATION

Just right scaffolding creates CHALLENGED & SUCCESSFUL LEARNERS

A Model for How Scaffolding Works

From Frey, Fisher, & Almarode (2023), How Scaffolding Works: A Playbook for Supporting and Releasing Responsibility to Students

What is Scaffolding?

Scaffolding is a support system or structure. This supporting framework is temporary and movable, allowing individuals to move forward in whatever task is at hand.

Scaffolding is only used when the task at hand is not possible to complete without that support system or structure.
Scaffolding is customized (i.e., movable) based on the specific needs of the individuals engaged in the task; there is no one-size-fits-all scaffolding.
Scaffolding is used until the support system or structure is no longer needed; scaffolds are temporary and not permanent.

Before deciding on the right ways and techniques to scaffols, we must engage in:

Mental Modeling

- What does proficiency or mastery look like for the particular standard(s) I am going to teach?
- What are the prerequisite knowledge and skills students need to access learning around this standard?

Goal Setting

Based on what we know about a student’s current level of knowledge and skills, how will we get them to proficiency/mastery of that standard? How will we “scaffold up”?

Resources to Learn More

Learn More About Scaffolding:

- How Scaffolding Works: A Playbook for Supporting and Releasing Responsibility to Students (2023) (requires RCSD login for access)
- Ensuring All Learners are Ready for the Right Level of Challenge Front-End Scaffolds (Corwin)
- Support Learners While in the Learning Distributed Scaffolding (Corwin)
- Supporting Learners in Where They Go Next in Their Learning Back-End Scaffolding (Corwin)

Scaffolding Examples (RCSD)
Are We Scaffolding Too Much? (Corwin)
Supports vs Modifications What's the Difference (UnboundED)
Scaffolding Strategies (TNTP)

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