Scaffolding
With the technique, Scaffolding, you ensure students have access to supports during practice, but remove these once a level of success has been achieved. Students then practise without the supports.
Why use this technique?
One of the most powerful motivators we can harness in our lessons is students’ experience of success. Success drives motivation. With this in mind, we need to do as much as we reasonably can to help all students be successful. This tends to be particularly important when they start a task. If students fail early, many will give up. Scaffolding can help avoid this issue.
Notes and tips
Examples of the sorts of Scaffolding we can offer students include:
Exemplars, which may be fully or partially completed
Key word lists
Writing frames
Knowledge organisers
Focused reflection
How well do you currently use this technique?
Is it a technique you will focus on developing?
If so, what are the key features you will focus on (things to do, and not do)?