Mod 8 Discussion: Tiering and Scaffolding in My Classroom

The scaffolding approach I am most intrigued with would be the "learning log". As an ELA teacher, there are never enough opportunities to get students writing and this approach would provide them with additional practice in the classroom. Rather than asking for yet another in-class essay on a complex topic or reading, the learning log would allow students to approach topics in smaller, more manageable bites.

1. I would modify the requirement for "writing" by allowing students to reflect on what they are learning in a number of ways, permitting students to write notes, poems, aphorisms and even sketches in addition to more "traditional" entries. This would allow for students to employ a number of varied modalities, making the entries more authentic and allowing students to utilize the modality they are most comfortable with. Hopefully, this would promote an authentic connection and ownership.
2. In addition to the journals themselves, drawing and sketching materials, graphic organizers and even photographs could all be materials that could be paired with the logs.
3. As stated above, the learning logs would be integrated into my ELA curriculum.