Mod 8 Discussion: Tiering and Scaffolding in My Classroom

Before reading, during reading and after reading is the scaffolding approach I often use with my students. This activity pairs extremely well with author study books we read in the library. For example, let's say that we are doing a reading of "The Wreck of the Zephyr" by Chris van Allsburg.

Before reading, allow the students to skim through the books and make predictions of what will happen based on the cover and the pictures in the story. (Do not allow them to read the text yet.)

During reading, do comprehension checks throughout the story and relate these checks back to the central theme or message of the story. Also, allow for the students to make any text-to-text, text-to-self or text-to-world connections with the story, as they help further the understanding of the story.

After reading, allow the students to work together to build a graphical organizer of the important aspects of the story. Also, include on this organizer a place to share the connections the students made during the reading.