What is Scaffolding, Exactly?

Denise Burson
Sep 01, 2008

What do you think of when you hear the word 'scaffolding'? When most of us hear the word 'scaffolding', we think of a tall building needing repair. A scaffold is erected outside the tall building to assist workers so they can climb up and repair the building. From the ground below scaffolding sometimes looks like an external skeleton. These external structures (scaffolds) are temporary structures that physically support workers while they complete jobs that would otherwise be impossible. Scaffolds provide workers with both a place to work and the means to reach work areas that they could not access on their own. Instructional scaffolding is a teaching strategy that was named for the resemblance it has to the physical scaffolds used on construction sites.

The term 'scaffolding' comes from the works of Wood, Bruner and Ross (1976). It was developed as a metaphor to describe the type of assistance offered by a teacher to support learning. In the process of scaffolding, the teacher helps the student master a grade level skill or concept that the student is initially unable to grasp independently. The teacher offers assistance with those skills that are beyond the student's capability. The teacher provides extensive instructional support or scaffolding, to continually assist the students in building their understanding of new content and skills. A scaffold is provided to help the student with the task that is just beyond his/her current capability so he/she is able to achieve the task. As the student achieves success the teacher begins the gradual removal of the scaffold to reveal the impressive permanent structure of student understanding. It is important to remember that scaffolding is used with grade level content and expectations.

Some scaffolding strategies:

  • Use 'think alouds', or verbalize your thinking processes when modeling a task.

  • Activate or build background knowledge, giving tips, strategies, cues and procedures.

  • Provide visual support.

  • Use pictures and props to build vocabulary.

  • Teach selective underlining and highlighting techniques in text.

  • Provide diagrams.

  • Provide writing frames and graphic organizers

  • Provide opportunities for speaking and listening with peers.

  • Break the task into smaller, more manageable parts

Scaffolding Grade Level Learning and Scaffolding with Technology are books that provide teachers with strategies and a framework that can be used to design effective instruction for all students.