

Books

How Scaffolding Works
Scaffolding—keep it in place too long and learners coast but never fly. Don’t provide enough and they bottom out with frustration. In How Scaffolding Works, you will learn how to get it just right.
- Grade Level: PreK-12
- ISBN: 9781071904152
- Published By: Corwin
- Year: 2023
- Page Count: 184
- Publication date: February 14, 2023
Price: $39.95
Description
Provide the perfect structure and support to develop student independence.
Effective scaffolding leads to learner autonomy—but too many educators have been airlifting students to right answers, perpetuating a generation who don’t know how to learn. Yes, we know the sweet spot for learning involves giving our students the right blend of productive failure and productive success, but how to do it is cloaked in misconceptions.
How Scaffolding Works unveils the essential moves and methods. Ten interactive modules help every K-12 educator structure support in new ways, including knowing how to:
- Gradually release responsibility to students through intentional and purposeful scaffolding
- Design lessons and experiences that attend to the affective, metacognitive, and cognitive aspects of learning
- Collect data before, during, and after learning, so we can place, move, and take away scaffolds with greater intention
- Promote independence with front-end scaffolds, distributed scaffolds, back-end scaffolds, peer scaffolds, and fading scaffolds
- Use a blend of demonstration, modeling, coaching, explaining, questioning and choice
- Promote purposeful practice—in which learners knows where they’re going and how to get there
Perhaps we rush in to rescue learners because the world seems fraught; we want to help our students reach the safety of academic success. Our intentions are good, but it’s time to step back, gradually and purposefully, and let them pilot their own learning.
Author(s)

Nancy Frey

Douglas Fisher
Douglas Fisher, Ph.D., is professor and chair of educational leadership at San Diego State University and a leader at Health Sciences High and Middle College. Previously, Doug was an early intervention teacher and elementary school educator. He is the recipient of an International Reading Association William S. Grey citation of merit and an Exemplary Leader award from the Conference on English Leadership of NCTE. He has published numerous articles on teaching and learning as well as books such as The Teacher Clarity Playbook, PLC+, Visible Learning for Literacy, Comprehension: The Skill, Will, and Thrill of Reading, How Tutoring Works, and How Learning Works. Doug loves being an educator and hopes to share that passion with others.

John Taylor Almarode
Continuing his collaborative work with colleagues on what works best in teaching and learning, How Tutoring Works, Visible Learning in Early Childhood, and How Learning Works, all with Corwin Press, were released in 2021.
Table of Contents
Introduction
Module 1: The Foundations of Scaffolding
Module 2: The Origins of Scaffolding
Module 3: A Model for How Scaffolding Works
Module 4: Mental Models
Module 5: Goal Setting
Module 6: Deliberate Practice
Module 7: Front-end Scaffolds
Module 8: Distributed Scaffolds
Module 9: Back-end Scaffolds
Module 10: Peer Scaffolding
Module 11: Fading Scaffolds
Conclusion: So, How Does Scaffolding Work?
Reviews
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“Almarode, Fisher, and Frey have expertly created an insightful, timely, practical playbook for teachers and school leaders who want to learn more ways to ensure that all students gain skills using supportive structures called scaffolds. Most of all, educators will enjoy the techniques for using ongoing formative assessment and spiraling curriculum.”Virginia E. Kelsen, PhD
Lead Human Resources Administrator, El Rancho Unified School District
“At a time when every educator and transformational leader are strategizing on how to eliminate inequities and achievement gaps among their scholars, this book is a valuable, timely resource. The authors have masterfully defined the characteristics of effective scaffolding to make instruction and learning both accessible and relevant for all learners, regardless of the level they begin. I view this 'playbook' as an absolute necessity—for its clarity and focus on the steps educators can take to help all scholars reach their highest academic potential.”Dana Trevethan
Superintendent, Turlock Unified School District
“How Scaffolding Works is a highly-engaging and thought-provoking resource for school administrators, instructional coaches, and teachers to collaboratively learn about scaffolding. Each module includes real-life examples, opportunities for peer discussion and an easy-to-use framework for deliberately planning scaffolds for ALL learners throughout the learning process. This playbook is a must read for anyone wanting to learn how to use high-effect size strategies to scaffold learning.”Alisa Barret
Director of Instruction, Greenfield Exempted Village Schools
“This text provides a fresh lens through which to view the practice of scaffolding, applicable to all grade bands and subject areas!”Tiffany Coleman
Former Chair of Literacy Instruction, Georgia Gwinnett College
Other Titles in: Education | Teaching Methods & Learning Styles | Visible Learning
For Instructors
Related Resources
- Companion Website [Site]