Construction Zone: Building Scaffolds for Readers and Writers

by Terry Thompson

Instructional scaffolding is an essential part of teaching literacy. But what is scaffolding exactly? What does it look like in a classroom, and how can we improve the ways we use it? Despite its prominence in the repertoire of teaching strategies, scaffolding remains a vague concept for many teachers. ' In essence, scaffolding is the idea of supporting students as they build independence. In The Construction Building Scaffolding for Readers and Writers, Terry Thompson identifies four critical processes to deepen your understanding and improve your practice of instructional ·' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' Finding and maintaining a specific focus ·' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' Practicing flexibility in planning and delivering instruction ·' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' Giving constructive feedback in response to student efforts ·' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' Monitoring to ensure that students are working at optimal levels of responsibility Thompson' encourages teachers to enhance their use of the traditional gradual release process through five actionable show, share, support, sustain, and survey, and in doing so provides procedures and techniques to help them establish and maintain strong scaffolds throughout the instructional day. The Construction Zone is written from the teacher's perspective and urges educators to fully embrace their role in the scaffolding process while staying mindful of the effect it has on students. ' Taking a student from dependence upon the teacher to independent learning is what teaching is all about, and instructional scaffolding is key to accomplishing this goal. Regardless of where you are in your understanding of instructional scaffolding, The Construction Zone will raise your level of awareness around your instructional practices and the ways you scaffold students to independence.' '

Genres: Education, Teaching

216 pages, Paperback

First published July 28, 2015

About the author

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Reviews

[Donalyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm proud to provide the foreword for this book and excited about sharing it with teachers and literacy professionals. A must have in your toolbox.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Construction Zone is written in a way that explains the scaffolding process and promotes self-reflection. The book is broken into four parts: focus, flexibility, feedback, and responsibility. Having a clear instructional focus (making sure instruction is relevant and not just related to instructional goals), knowing our end goal but being flexible in how we get there, giving constant feedback while supporting a positive rapport, and making sure students are doing the majority of the work are all points of interest.

[Franki Sibberson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant!