Scaffolding Vs. Shaping
SCAFFOLDING
- Scaffolding is a term that describes support provided by an adult to a child that helps the child increase their independence and performance.
- An adult might ask a question during book reading that may be a scaffold for one child but not for another.
- Scaffolding is suited to tasks that are whole and not complete.
SHAPING
- Shaping is another instructional approach to child learning that breaks down information or skills into their smallest component.
- Starting at the smallest component, adults teach children each part of a particular task until they reach mastery.
- The combination of scaffolding and shaping maximizes both teaching and learning in a classroom.
By combining the techniques of scaffolding and shaping, adults can identify specific elements of a more complex task that children should learn and help them apply individuals elements within the larger task (Justice et. al, 2005). For example, a teacher could help her children learn the alphabet letters during a storybook reading which contributes to the greater understanding of the act of reading.
While scaffolding and shaping can be used together, the STAR Read-Aloud Practices focuses specifically on the technique of scaffolding to support the development of early literacy skills.