Mod 8 Discussion: Tiering and Scaffolding in My Classroom

One scaffolding approach I really like using is sentence frames, especially for ELLs or students who struggle with getting their thoughts down on paper. I’d adapt it a bit by making the sentence frames more open-ended as students become more confident—kind of like slowly removing the training wheels. I’d pair this with visuals (like anchor charts or image cards), especially for vocabulary-heavy subjects. For materials, I’d also use graphic organizers that align with the sentence frames—like a cause/effect chart with sentence starters for science or social studies. I’d mostly use this with our reading and writing curriculum, especially during response to literature or informational writing. It helps them organize their ideas while also encouraging them to speak and write in full, academic sentences. It’s a great way to build confidence and fluency at the same time!