Review
Let's Review the main points of scaffolding for ELLs:
Educators have traditionally approached language learning as a process that is separate from the process of teaching content knowledge. This approach leaves ELLs especially unprepared to work with complex texts and the academic language that is required to be successful in the mainstream classroom.
You can combine Scaffolding and ZPD to benefit ELLs by:
Established Principles on 2nd Language Learning
Know the Difference Between BICS and CALP
BICS: Basic Interpersonal Communication Skills
CALP: Cognitive Academic Language Proficiency
Consider:
Educators have traditionally approached language learning as a process that is separate from the process of teaching content knowledge. This approach leaves ELLs especially unprepared to work with complex texts and the academic language that is required to be successful in the mainstream classroom.
Have Clear Objectives
-It is very important that the objectives of the lesson, as well as what they are expected to produce, are very clear for ELLs. This also promotes interest and motivation.
-Provide clear, simple directions that you repeat and paraphrase mutliple times
-Provide examples of what the ELLs are expected to produce
Provide plenty of opportunities for speaking, listening, reading and writing in the content area
-The more practice that ELLs have, the more likely it is that they will learn the academic language, and also learn the content
-Provide adapted text whenever possible.
Educators have traditionally approached language learning as a process that is separate from the process of teaching content knowledge. This approach leaves ELLs especially unprepared to work with complex texts and the academic language that is required to be successful in the mainstream classroom.
You can combine Scaffolding and ZPD to benefit ELLs by:
- Recognizing where your ELLs are in their learning process
- Aiming instruction within the ELL's ZPD
- Using scaffolding in your lesson plans to assist Ells in mastering more advanced language skills and content concepts
Established Principles on 2nd Language Learning
- Conversational language proficiency is not the same as academic language proficiency
- ELLs need comprehensible input that is one step beyond their current ability in order to progress in language development
- Social interaction in the classroom facilitates the development of conversational and academic language
- ELLs need plenty of opportunities to produce meaningful output
Know the Difference Between BICS and CALP
BICS: Basic Interpersonal Communication Skills
- Day-to-day language to interact socially
- Meaningful social context
- Not very demanding cognitively
CALP: Cognitive Academic Language Proficiency
- Language used in formal, academic learning
- Listening, speaking, reading, writing content
- Context reduced
- Cognitively demanding
Consider:
Educators have traditionally approached language learning as a process that is separate from the process of teaching content knowledge. This approach leaves ELLs especially unprepared to work with complex texts and the academic language that is required to be successful in the mainstream classroom.
Have Clear Objectives
-It is very important that the objectives of the lesson, as well as what they are expected to produce, are very clear for ELLs. This also promotes interest and motivation.
-Provide clear, simple directions that you repeat and paraphrase mutliple times
-Provide examples of what the ELLs are expected to produce
Provide plenty of opportunities for speaking, listening, reading and writing in the content area
-The more practice that ELLs have, the more likely it is that they will learn the academic language, and also learn the content
-Provide adapted text whenever possible.
Which Tools Can Teachers Use to Scaffold for ELLs?
"I do, We do, You do"
"I do, We do, You do"
- Activate & Build Background Knowledge
- Explicit Instruction
- Modeling
- Guided Practice
- Peer Practice
- Assessment
Next:
- Go to the "Case Studies" Page for classroom examples of scaffolding strategies for Ells
- Test your ability to identify the scaffolding strategies that were used or, identify those that could have been used