Scaffolds to Support Student Success with Challenging Tasks by Whitney Axman

Andrea L'Ecuyer

2018-11-07 01:24:04 UTC

Think Aloud- A think-aloud is a great scaffolding tool that teachers can use to work on comprehension. The students are able to visualize, predict, summarize, question, and connect to the reading or subject material they are looking at in class. Think-aloud also allow more collaboration in the classroom because students are able to bounce ideas off of each other and get some of their questions answered by peers rather than teachers.
I chose this resource because it talks about the different aspects (listed above) and how each one can be focused on during think-alouds.

Hint Cards

2018-11-07 14:14:30 UTC

Hint cards are a great way to scaffold work and allow the teacher to help other students and allows th student to work independently. This is a great way to put answers on the card that the teacher may know will be difficult for the student or to provide an answer to a students question. This allows students a resource to go to before they go to the teacher and allows students to solve the problem independently. This is a great way to scaffold in the classroom.

Hunter Wolfe

2018-11-07 14:14:49 UTC

Modeling: Modeling is a great scaffolding tool to help students further understand a concept. This allows for the teacher to provide a detailed example so that the students can complete a task on their own. I chose this source because it not only describes what modeling is but it also provides examples of how you can use modeling in your own classroom.

Krista Campbell

2018-11-07 22:18:14 UTC

Using Pictures/icons to support understanding:
Research has shown that using pictures is a very effective way to increase understanding and comprehension for all students, especially ELL students. An activity this article mentioned was using a Picture Word Inductive Model. In this activity, students look at a picture and brainstorm words the picture relates to. Then the students categorize the words, this leads them to completing a fill in the blank activity with the words, then they write their own sentences, and they begin to write their own paragraphs. This is a great method to gradually bring students into the writing process, one step at a time. Some other activities this article mentions are though bubbles, picture dictation, image detective, and many more that can help students use pictures to begin their writing process.

Reese McDowell

2018-11-08 18:50:35 UTC

Manipulatives: Based on this article, manipulatives are a must need tool in teaching math. Manipulatives help students understand a topic or concept while participating in a hands on activity to get them engaged. I chose this resource because it uses research to explain its claims and reasoning. Manipulatives are a great tool to use as a model to show students what is being taught. Teachers can utilize this information to implement more manipulative tools and activities into the classroom.

Anna Motto

2018-11-08 21:37:54 UTC

The resource I chose helps teachers find graphic organizers for different grades and it gives templates to download that they can use for their classroom. This resource puts together all different graphic organizers that other teachers have made and used. This resource could help a teacher that is struggling on a graphic organizer to use by giving them templates that they can download and use. Another cool thing about this resource is that it also includes lessons that could be used for each graphic organizer. It also includes subjects, grades, and standard ideas to use.

Jenn Reavis

2018-11-10 05:33:09 UTC

For my selection on small group instruction, I chose a short article that really does a great job of simplifying small group instruction down to the essentials. It does an excellent job of outlining the value of small groups while being sure not to leave out that there are challenges associated with this type of instruction. It also provides links for teachers or parents to learn about differentiated learning and classroom management.

Allie Vore

2018-11-10 23:15:16 UTC

Front Loading Vocabulary:
The article says that front loading vocabulary can be a very "powerful" tool because it allows the students to understand what they are reading. If they do not understand the meaning of a word then being able to comprehend the meaning of what is being read is minimal. I believe this is a good resource for students and teachers because it gives a good definition of what front loading vocabulary means so that a student can understand why the teacher is doing what they doing. What make sit a good resource from a teacher is that it gives great examples of some different methods of using front loading vocabulary and ways to in cooperate into your lesson plan to create success.
It also provides its resources so that the teacher can continue to research on the topic if they choose to.

Krista Bradley

kbradle3 — 2018-11-11 20:13:37 UTC

White space
White space is an important concept to think about in many aspects. It is an intentional space that is created to give emphasis to concepts. The article I chose to share for this subject relates it to many areas- graphic design, room arrangement, presentation design, and even personal time. White space can be used to bring key concepts and ideas into focus for our students. Space on the page should be seen as important real estate and be placed with intent to convey meaning. Sometimes white space can be a way to allow a student better chances to read and access the instruction or assessment, while at other times it can be an overwhelming experience for the student. It is important to know the times to use white space and know how much to give each student.

Chandley Easley

2018-11-12 04:18:44 UTC

Mini Lessons

I chose this resource because they explain what a mini lesson is, why it is important, when teachers should use mini lessons, and what they look like. A mini lesson is a lead-in to a larger lesson. A mini lesson should be short and focus on one strategy, skill, or concept. Teachers can teach mini lessons to a whole class, small group, or individual students. A mini lesson can be used for any subject or even be used to teach classroom procedures. “Mini lessons can be used to teach particular skills, extend previous learning, create interest in a topic and generate questions, or introduce strategies.” I think mini lessons are important for new teachers to be aware of. They are great to include in your lesson planning.

Randee Bontrager

2018-11-12 23:51:01 UTC

Voice-to-text programs
This scaffold is important in a classroom because it helps students that have learning disabilities, visual impairments, low motor skills, and limited english language learners. I chose this scaffold because as listed it can help several students in the classroom that are differentiated. This article mentioned that it helps lower the challenges for writing. The students will have less obstacles that they will face when writing while using a voice-to-text program. This will also make the student feel more independent with themselves and have less anxiety because of not asking so many questions to the teacher. This can help the teacher by knowing that the student is learning and not struggling as much anymore. The student benefits from this scaffold because they fully understand what they are learning.

Abbie Lavin

2018-11-14 18:48:55 UTC

Step-by-step instructions:

I was interested in the benefits of using this scaffold, because it is a useful organizer for visual learners, and is a common approach when teaching students who need structure such as those with autism. The resource I chose is very helpful, because it gives insight as to why step-by-step instructions help students to learn better, and it also gives teachers ways can use it in the classroom for lessons and assignments.

Dylan Schneider

2018-11-15 02:10:25 UTC

Graphic Organizers:
I have had many varying experiences with graphic organizers over my years in middle and high school, as well as college. Through teaching I have realized that they can be an effective tool in some situations, but can destroy a learning moment in others. In addition, some students seem to thrive off of them while others despise seeing them put on their desks. The resource I chose talks about how to EFFECTIVELY use graphic organizers in the classroom and how they can be used to further a topic. It does not cover the negatives, only highlighting the positives. However, it does a great job on what it covers.

Myriale Valdivia

2018-11-16 03:22:13 UTC

Frequent check-ins:
As a students I have always found that when teachers check in on my progress I seem to always be more successful on the task I was given. The link I provided is to a teachers blog who gave us a real world situation that all teachers will come across at one point in their teaching career, then gave tips on how to resolve the situation. This blog gives you steps on how to make frequent check in with your students such as refocusing the student, clarifying instruction, etc. I think this website will be very helpful to all teachers and future teachers.

Chelsea Watson

2018-11-16 19:30:39 UTC

Text in First Language:
This blog is about the pros and cons of using the students first language in a classroom. I like how they bring up the fact that we as teachers should be creating a learning atmosphere that allows these students to learn English, but still embrace their home language. Instead of trying to get these students to change from their L1 to English we should be letting them use their L1 to connect words and meanings to English. Using the L1 for directions also makes it easier for students to take test and do homework because it might not be that they do not understand the topic, but maybe they do not know what is asked of them because they do not understand the English directions.

Allison Hamilton

2018-11-16 19:37:34 UTC

Modeling:
I chose this website because not only did it give the importances of modeling within the classroom, but also gave examples of what modeling is and how it can be done. Modeling can be done in a variety of different ways, and this article helps prove that. Every teacher is different, and every child learns differently. We may model something one way at the beginning, but they have to change it for another child. I think it is important for us educators to be able to model things in a variety of different ways to help meet our students’ needs.

Alicia Kepler

akepler — 2018-11-16 20:03:13 UTC

Reading Partners with appropriate materials and guidelines for working together:

I chose this website because it explains what partner reading is. It also talks about why you should use this strategy in the classroom, and lays guidelines for implementing the strategy successfully. This site also offers information about activities that can be used with second language learners, and activities and strategies to use throughout different subjects. There is a video that shows reading partners in action and a list of books that are good to use with this strategy. This site offers an enormous amount of information that would serve as an excellent resource for a new teacher trying to understand more about how to use this scaffolding in teaching.

Amanda Oshman

2018-11-16 20:35:44 UTC

Hello! I chose Small Group Instruction, because I think this is becoming a more common idea in the school districts in everyday classrooms. Teachers use small group instruction for many reasons. I use it in my classroom just to get a chance to connect with my students one on one and see how they are doing with everything. I will teach concepts that I think may be difficult to understand as a group, with students who may be on different levels. I think Small Group Instruction can be a great resource but as a teacher you have to be prepared and organized. What are the students who aren’t with you in small group doing? How will you make sure they stay engaged? During small group, are you staying on task and making sure you are covering everything and have all of the materials? Just a few things to think about when covering small group instruction. I think it makes a huge difference in students learning when they are able to communicate to you one on one and voice all of their concerns. I think small group instruction is helpful for teachers because it helps them get a feel of how everyone is doing academically and socially. The video I found helps explain the main concepts of small group instruction and some things you can do as a teacher to make it go smoother.

https://youtu.be/AF3T2aZM3ko

Katherine Hobert

2018-11-16 21:47:08 UTC

I chose to have hint cards in the classroom because I think this is a great way for the students to reflect on what they have learned. I would like them there in the classroom just in case a student forgot what they were doing they could reflect back to the hint card to see how to do the activity. This is another way for the students to be independent and confident on their in class assignment. As a future teacher I see myself having this in my classroom to benefit the students.

Jessica Parker

2018-11-17 19:49:54 UTC

Using Exemplars of past student work slightly beyond a current student’s performance level is important in helping students to visualize the end goal and create a level of expectation. Giving examples of past students’ work (a non-linguistic representation) incorporates a visual aid, an example to work towards. It helps students to understand and complete the project correctly the first time. This is a great example to model the activity as it came from a student and does not overshoot the students’ abilities, nor limits them. As a student in the past and currently, at times I find myself dependent on this use of scaffolding from the teacher. I am not always able to visualize the outcome the teacher is wanting, but when given examples it gives me a great starting point. The video below give 5 strategies on non linguistic representation.
I chose this link because about a third of students are visual learner. They need to see to understand. I also chose this link because it is a video and even adults need visual aids.

Kevin Miller

2018-11-18 00:03:01 UTC

Directions written in simpler/more straightforward wording
For my scaffolding, I found a teacher-catered video depicting the attributes that effective directions/instructions (written and spoken) include. The animated video lists these aspects in the anagram of SO CAVEMAN: Steps, Observable, Check for Understanding, Attention, Visuals, Economical, Magic Word, Address Misunderstandings, and Narrate Compliance. The video visually well demonstrates how students of all ages need clear concise instruction and can easily feel lost, angry, or shamed in their classroom if not. I choose this specific scaffolding because I find I can become long-winded and/or confusing in giving directions at times. I found this video important in its subject matter and potentially helpful to any teacher with it’s simplistic SO CAVEMAN anagram.

Study Guides

2018-11-18 14:34:04 UTC

I chose to write about study guides; this resource was created to help college students create study guides for themselves. This resource is helpful because it gives you ways to write a study guide beyond a list of questions. This resource can help you and your students because it gives you several ways to create a clear and organized study guide to help further your learning.
https://drive.google.com/a/g.emporia.edu/file/d/1QmSG8dp0YKsStY5cgmAIANgZXZefeJZl/view?usp=drivesdk

Rebekah Bortniker

2018-11-18 15:29:51 UTC

I picked peer partners because I think it's always helpful when students can hear explanations from other students. The source I picked talks about different ways you can encourage peer partners. I think this would be a great resource to a new teacher who is on the fence about it doing this in their class. It gives the benefits, the criticism, and tips on how to do it effectively. It also includes some other sources on this topic if you want to learn more.

Tessa Yungeberg

2018-11-18 18:03:44 UTC

Icons or pictures that support understanding.

Some benefits of improving visual literacy would be...
1)Visual information is more memorable
2) Visual information is transferred faster
3) Helps students communicate with the world around them.
These are just a few of the important points of visual literacy. A definition of visual literacy is the ability to construct meaning from images, it is a form of critical thinking.

Kaylie Coble

kcoble11 — 2018-11-18 21:16:02 UTC

Manipulatives have been something I have used since I was in elementary school. We used manipulatives to count money, learn about base 10 blocks, and for grouping. This helped me learn because I am a hands on learner. I believe manipulatives are important for teachers to use to help students especially those who learn better hands on. In the math class I recently took, we learned how to teach using manipulatives. Each class period we got out new manipulatives and learned how to teach different math skills using them. The article I used explains the benefits of using manipulatives based off of research. This article is a great resource for new teachers to use.

Shelbie Amir

samir9 — 2018-11-18 23:01:20 UTC

Lexiles are one way to measure a student’s reading level. The scale is between 0 and 2,000+. A text that is at the reader’s Lexile level will be a slight challenge, but not enough to become discouraging. Lexiles can be used in the classroom to differentiate instruction, personalize learning, and forecast comprehension. Lexile ratings only refer to reading difficulty, not content. If a child is reading above their grade level, then an adult should ensure that the subject matter is age appropriate.

I selected this blog post on how one teacher organized her classroom library by lexile. I think it’s useful because her approach allows students to easily find books that are an appropriate reading level for them. She also shared how she looked up each book’s lexile number which is helpful to know if you're wanting to organize your library this way.

Roxanne Williams

2018-11-18 23:07:59 UTC

I chose to focus on one-step directions, I think it is important to have a student who has a hard time following extensive directions to be able to have the option of getting the directions one at a time. This also helps with students who need more structure throughout their day, which many students with autism need. The resource I found gives good ideas on how to train a child to follow directions, and encourage the student to learn how to follow the first, next, then direction scaffold.

Paige Bjerkaas

muggsmarie919 — 2018-11-19 01:42:32 UTC

Clear Criteria for Success

I chose this source to help educators learn more about providing clear criteria for success because it is from an actual teacher who is implementing this idea for the first time as a teacher. She explains what she has learned and how it has been beneficial for her students. She also talks about ways to make things more clear for her students, how to give good feedback, and how often she references her criteria.

Clear criteria for success is good for students because they know what they are expected to learn and how to present what they know. This allow them to prepare properly and have an insight on what they should be learning. Clear criteria for success is also beneficial for teachers because it allows them to be more prepared for their lessons and makes grading easier. If both parties know what is expected, there should be no problems (in theory).

Cassidy Hink

2018-11-19 02:12:56 UTC

Recorded task directions or texts:
I think there are lots of benefits to audio recording in the classroom. One major one is that the students can go back if they missed something or zoned out.

https://www2.le.ac.uk/services/reflect/how-can-reflect-help-learning-and-teaching/recording-lectures/advice-for-students-on-how-to-use-recordings

I chose this resource because it talks about the benefits of a recorded lecture. Even though it is about a lecture, all the benefits are true for an elementary classroom as well. The scaffold is pretty self explanatory which is another reason I chose this article about the benefits of audio recording in the classroom.

Graphic Organizers: Meghan Shea

2018-11-19 02:57:53 UTC

Graphic organizers are a tool that help learners categorize information from one large topic into smaller categories to help structure thinking. I think this is a great resource because graphic organizers come in many different forms. This resource can be used for any subject area and benefits visual learners. Graphic organizers help students brainstorm ideas, guide them in thinking, compare and contrast, etc. Teachers should help incorporate this resource into their classroom to help students keep information organized.

Samantha Preeo

2018-11-19 03:48:52 UTC

Graphic organizers have always been helpful to me. After finding this resource I learned how helpful they can be to help diverse learners understand the information given. A lot of people think of venn diagrams when dealing with graphic organizers but this resource discusses different types of organizers that can be used including, flow charts, and timelines. This website also tells you how to create these graphic organizers on the web, in Microsoft word, or in power point so teachers can create them for their students or so the students can create it themselves.