Primary Scaffolds
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Scaffolding Academic Language by Identifying Visual Differences (Primary)
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Scaffolding Academic Language with ‘What’s Missing?’ (Pre-School/Lower Primary)
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Scaffolding Images and Text with Mini-Cards (Pre-School/lower primary)
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- a children’s book writer…
- a poet…
- a poet…
- a children’s book writer…
- a poet…
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Scaffolding International Turtle Day through Poetry and Philosophy (Primary)
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Scaffolding Maps and Graphs with Higher-Order Level Questions (Primary)
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Scaffolding Synonyms and Antonyms through Translanguaging (Primary)
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Scaffolding Academic Language by Identifying Visual Differences (Primary)
Studies show that while memorising academic language is effective in the short term – to pass exams, for instance, in the long-term it is an ineffective way of learning terms that students can use in context*. Without having analysed, compared, categorised, and defended their own ideas through the use of these terms, most students will forget their meanings as quickly as they learned them.
What can we do? The solution is easy. We create opportunities for our students to analyse, compare, categorise, and defend their own ideas through the use of these terms.
Scaffolding Academic Language with ‘What’s Missing?’ (Pre-School/Lower Primary)
Academic language is so important that experts assert that the warehouse of words a person has stored away is directly connected to their quality of thinking: higher quality of words equals higher quality of thinking.** In this age of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, the quality of thinking our students reach in our classes, will be the difference between being qualified for jobs that technology is (still) not capable of performing, and watching the world from the sidelines.
This applies even to our youngest learners. We can help them to assimilate academic language even before they begin to read. If we verbalise  first-, second- and third-tier words,*** through dynamic activities, we are helping them to become familiar with academic language that will serve them for the rest of their academic and professional lives.
Academic language is so important that experts assert that the warehouse of words a person has stored away is directly connected to their quality of thinking: higher quality of words equals higher quality of thinking.** In this age of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, the quality of thinking our students reach in our classes, will be the difference between being qualified for jobs that technology is (still) not capable of performing, and watching the world from the sidelines.
This applies even to our youngest learners. We can help them to assimilate academic language even before they begin to read. If we verbalise  first-, second- and third-tier words,*** through dynamic activities, we are helping them to become familiar with academic language that will serve them for the rest of their academic and professional lives.
Scaffolding by Enriching the Sequencing Dynamic (Primary)
Sequencing is a concept that needs to be repeated throughout the education process. We need to intentionally give our students the opportunities to be able to recognise and express sequences, and we need to provide the phrases they can use to clarify the ordering of events. It might be motivating to know that studies show that students are able to recall information more accurately if they´ve been schooled in sequencing.
The art of ordering is a skill that requires critical thinking as it obligates the students to see both sides of an issue, be open to new evidence, and deduce and infer conclusions from available facts.* Inferential reasoning enables students to construct new knowledge by considering, connecting past knowledge to new. If we want to delve into the biology of the skill, you might be interested to know that the dynamic activates the hippocampus, which is the part of the brain responsible for retaining short-term, long-term and spatial memory. So, the more we give students the opportunity to develop this part of the brain, the more we are aiding them in strengthening neuron connections.
Sequencing is a concept that needs to be repeated throughout the education process. We need to intentionally give our students the opportunities to be able to recognise and express sequences, and we need to provide the phrases they can use to clarify the ordering of events. It might be motivating to know that studies show that students are able to recall information more accurately if they´ve been schooled in sequencing.
The art of ordering is a skill that requires critical thinking as it obligates the students to see both sides of an issue, be open to new evidence, and deduce and infer conclusions from available facts.* Inferential reasoning enables students to construct new knowledge by considering, connecting past knowledge to new. If we want to delve into the biology of the skill, you might be interested to know that the dynamic activates the hippocampus, which is the part of the brain responsible for retaining short-term, long-term and spatial memory. So, the more we give students the opportunity to develop this part of the brain, the more we are aiding them in strengthening neuron connections.
Scaffolding Cultural Differences – Personal Space (Primary)
Cultural differences extend far beyond language, greetings, gestures, dress and beliefs. The very space we create when we meet people – or the absence of that space – is indicative of where we come from and what our understanding is of the (dis)comfort level of those we are with.
This scaffold helps us see how we can honour physical space, amongst many other differences between cultures. It includes the affective side of learning – in developing more understanding and compassionate citizens of the world as our students travel across the planet physically and/or virtually.
Scaffolding Dense information with Art (Primary)
This scaffold gives students the opportunity to interact with material through linguistics and visuals. As in the best-planned activities, we also include specific language outcomes. Too often we focus only on content, but being specific about the language structure, grammar and clarity of meaning ahead of time, students feel more supported and are therefore more able to confidently participate. The examples used in this activity come from a Natural Science class on energy. You’ll see how easy it is to adapt it to your lesson.
This scaffold gives students the opportunity to interact with material through linguistics and visuals. As in the best-planned activities, we also include specific language outcomes. Too often we focus only on content, but being specific about the language structure, grammar and clarity of meaning ahead of time, students feel more supported and are therefore more able to confidently participate. The examples used in this activity come from a Natural Science class on energy. You’ll see how easy it is to adapt it to your lesson.
Scaffolding Images and Text with Mini-Cards (Pre-School/lower primary)
We all know by now (pretend that you do, even if you don’t!!!) that teaching critical thinking is a never-ending job. Critical thinking strategies are domain sensitive, which simply means that a strategy that works in art may not work in history, and a strategy that works in for a verbal deliberation may not work in a situation that requires physical movement, etc.
We look at all this as an opportunity to expand our practice. We can take this as an excuse to widen even further the variety of strategies we use in our classroom activities so that when our students go out into the world, they’ll be more prepared because of this little extra effort we put into our lessons.
We all know by now (pretend that you do, even if you don’t!!!) that teaching critical thinking is a never-ending job. Critical thinking strategies are domain sensitive, which simply means that a strategy that works in art may not work in history, and a strategy that works in for a verbal deliberation may not work in a situation that requires physical movement, etc.
We look at all this as an opportunity to expand our practice. We can take this as an excuse to widen even further the variety of strategies we use in our classroom activities so that when our students go out into the world, they’ll be more prepared because of this little extra effort we put into our lessons.
Scaffolding International Thank You Day (Primary)
The International Thank You Day – celebrated by many on January 11th, others on June 11th – is a wonderful opportunity to help our students to focus on gratitude and add to positive forces in the world. Including gratitude in the educational environments is proven to improve relationships both in and outside of the classroom. Stressing affective factors in our lessons aligns us Vygotsky’s assertion (1978) that our students are more likely to step outside their comfort zone (ZPD) when they feel that they are supported and nurtured.
The International Thank You Day – celebrated by many on January 11th, others on June 11th – is a wonderful opportunity to help our students to focus on gratitude and add to positive forces in the world. Including gratitude in the educational environments is proven to improve relationships both in and outside of the classroom. Stressing affective factors in our lessons aligns us Vygotsky’s assertion (1978) that our students are more likely to step outside their comfort zone (ZPD) when they feel that they are supported and nurtured.
Scaffolding International Turtle Day through Poetry and Philosophy (Primary)
Seriously? A children’s book about turtles is philosophical? Oh yes it is! Theodor Seuss Geisel (Dr. Seuss), was not just a writer of children’s books, but a profound philosopher, a poet, a political advocate (sometimes controversial), and a promoter of critical thinking on all levels.
Scaffolding Maps and Graphs with Higher-Order Level Questions (Primary)
Higher-order level questions – those that elicit deeper thinking – help students to stretch their thinking and engage their curiosity, their reasoning ability, their creativity, and independence. These questions encourage students to open their minds, they offer opportunities to produce original thinking. Â A well-structured question sparks perspectives that might not have at first occurred to us; they encourage us to look at the issue from different perspectives. Higher-order level questions inspire fresh and sometimes even startling insights and ideas, they open roads for wider perspectives of the issue, and enable teachers and students to work together in constructing understanding. If we use effective questioning skills in the educational environment, we help our students to be more effective thinkers now and in the future.*
Higher-order level questions – those that elicit deeper thinking – help students to stretch their thinking and engage their curiosity, their reasoning ability, their creativity, and independence. These questions encourage students to open their minds, they offer opportunities to produce original thinking. Â A well-structured question sparks perspectives that might not have at first occurred to us; they encourage us to look at the issue from different perspectives. Higher-order level questions inspire fresh and sometimes even startling insights and ideas, they open roads for wider perspectives of the issue, and enable teachers and students to work together in constructing understanding. If we use effective questioning skills in the educational environment, we help our students to be more effective thinkers now and in the future.*
Scaffolding Reported Speech in Context (Primary)
Scaffolds that offer opportunities for verbal interactions compensate for this lack. They help students to strengthen, build and diversify language as well as to use skills they might not develop by themselves.
Scaffolds that offer opportunities for verbal interactions compensate for this lack. They help students to strengthen, build and diversify language as well as to use skills they might not develop by themselves.
Scaffolding Synonyms and Antonyms through Translanguaging (Primary)
An important factor in translanguaging is knowing the different registers – when to use different tones, words, phrases. It’s important to know which terms are appropriate for specific circumstances. Especially in those languages (such as English) in which there is no formal or informal pronouns, register and tone transmit crucial information. To give our students an even wider prospects in their scholastic and professional lives, being comfortable with – or at least recognising – register is of the highest importance.
An important factor in translanguaging is knowing the different registers – when to use different tones, words, phrases. It’s important to know which terms are appropriate for specific circumstances. Especially in those languages (such as English) in which there is no formal or informal pronouns, register and tone transmit crucial information. To give our students an even wider prospects in their scholastic and professional lives, being comfortable with – or at least recognising – register is of the highest importance.
Scaffolding Texts through Verbal Deliberation (Primary)
This scaffold helps students to become personally involved in whatever text they are asked to read. The technique includes using verbal reasoning to aid in the reading of new material – so that the reader has the opportunity to build a mental representation of the text through critical thinking and deliberation. The active dialogue while reading helps students to maintain active nodes (that might otherwise be passive), and the construct of knowledge then becomes stronger and can be accessed longer.
This scaffold helps students to become personally involved in whatever text they are asked to read. The technique includes using verbal reasoning to aid in the reading of new material – so that the reader has the opportunity to build a mental representation of the text through critical thinking and deliberation. The active dialogue while reading helps students to maintain active nodes (that might otherwise be passive), and the construct of knowledge then becomes stronger and can be accessed longer.
