Scaffolding?

Scaffolding?

My son pointed out to me that I use the word scaffolding a lot but never say what it means. He’s right. Then I said scaffolding is taking information you are new to and reviewing what you know to see where it connects. He told me that he knew what it meant.

He is right. I use words from education that maybe everyone is not familiar with. There are some that are very important to life, not just education. Scaffolding is something that applies to our brains and everything we encounter along the way.

A scaffold, in the more mainstream sense, is a an external structure used around buildings that are being repaired or renovated. These superstructures allow workers to move around the building and find the areas they need to work on. In short, they allow access. Scaffolding in learning allows access also.

In the educational setting, lessons are built to go in a sequence. Each lesson extends what was taught in the lesson before. The scaffold is the area where what has been learned overlaps with what is new.

1.      We use an alphabet of 26 letters.

2.      Letters of the alphabet make sounds.

3.      You can put two letters together and say those sounds.

4.      Letters combination can make words.

5.      Words have sounds.

When you are thinking of making a lesson or having a discussion session, ask kids where they make connections. Have them make a concept map or a mind map. Draw the scaffolds showing the connections. Everything you learn helps you better understand the world and you place in it.