What is the term for the support that allows a child to work above their independent level and is gradually removed as mastery is gained?

What is the term for the support that allows a child to work above their independent level and is gradually removed as mastery is gained?

• A. Scaffolding
• B. Modeling
• C. Independent practice
• D. Remediation

Answer: (A)

Scaffolding is the support that lets a learner work on tasks just beyond what they can do alone, and that support is gradually removed as they gain mastery. This idea comes from guiding students within their Zone of Proximal Development, where a little help helps them reach higher levels of understanding, and the help is faded as independence grows. In an ESOL context, you might provide sentence frames, prompts, or modeling of a strategy, then gradually reduce these supports so the student can continue with less help. As the student demonstrates success, the teacher widens independence and the task becomes self-directed. Modeling, for example, is a tool used within scaffolding, but the overall process of providing, then removing support to reach independence is scaffolding. Independent practice comes after the supports are faded, and remediation targets gaps rather than the gradual push beyond current ability.

Scaffolding is the support that lets a learner work on tasks just beyond what they can do alone, and that support is gradually removed as they gain mastery. This idea comes from guiding students within their Zone of Proximal Development, where a little help helps them reach higher levels of understanding, and the help is faded as independence grows. In an ESOL context, you might provide sentence frames, prompts, or modeling of a strategy, then gradually reduce these supports so the student can continue with less help. As the student demonstrates success, the teacher widens independence and the task becomes self-directed. Modeling, for example, is a tool used within scaffolding, but the overall process of providing, then removing support to reach independence is scaffolding. Independent practice comes after the supports are faded, and remediation targets gaps rather than the gradual push beyond current ability.