Having introduced the concept of scaffolding in the previous chapters, we will now discuss it in more detail. This chapter covers the idea of process success criteria (introduced in Chapter 2) that are key for identifying the things you might need to scaffold. Finally, ahead of more detailed coverage in Chapter 4, we introduce our framework for interaction to support you when scaffolding pupils' learning.
What is scaffolding?'Scaffolding' is a term which is regularly used in educational discussions and in books, but is not often explained by those who use it. It gets used in different ways by different people, so as a result its meaning can lose clarity.
Reflection activity
Have you heard the term scaffolding? If so, how would you define it?Ask a few teachers how they would define scaffolding.Ask your SENCO how he or she would define scaffolding.
What are the similarities and differences between the definitions?Look at the answers to the questions in the activity above. The following words are likely to appear in the definitions you collected: help; support; differentiation; steps; breaking down; chunking down; structure; independence; contingent; talk; interaction. We would use some of these words when defining scaffolding, but we would avoid others.
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