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What is scaffolding instruction? Importance to MLs SupportEd’s approach

A scaffold is a temporary support teachers provide multilingual learners (MLs), so MLs can perform a task they are learning to perform independently. The ultimate goal of scaffolding is for MLs to be able to complete a similar task without the scaffold.

Scaffolds can help make rigorous grade-level curriculum accessible for MLs. Selecting the appropriate scaffolds is key to supporting MLs in being able to successfully engage with and complete the academic task. Scaffolds can be grouped into three categories: instructional materials, instructional practices, and instructional groupings.

In order to select appropriate scaffolds, you must know your MLs’ backgrounds, their strengths and needs, and understand the linguistic demands of the instructional tasks. SupportEd provides various solutions and practical tools to help build your understanding of scaffolds and how to use them to support your MLs’ content and language development. For a more detailed understanding of scaffolding for MLs, check out chapter 3 of Unlocking Multilingual Learners’ Potential: Strategies for Making Content Accessible.

Printables Printables

3 Main Categories of Scaffolds for Your ML
Guide

Scaffolding Instruction Unit Planning
Checklist

Suggested Scaffolds at Each Proficiency Level
Guide

Books Books

Unlocking Multilingual Learners’ Potential: Strategies for Making Content Accessible Unlocking Multilingual Learners’ Potential: Strategies for Making Content Accessible

In this eagerly anticipated revision of their bestselling book, authors Diane Staehr Fenner, Sydney Snyder, and Meghan Gregoire-Smith share dynamic, research-backed strategies that every educator of multilingual learners (MLs) can add to their repertoire. Including more of what educators loved from the first edition—authentic classroom examples, a wide variety of research-based instructional strategies, and practical tools to implement across grade levels and content areas—this is the ultimate practical guide to unlocking the potential of MLs in K-12 classrooms.

Learn more