Scaffolding Literacy |

What does it mean to scaffold literacy? Scaffolding in short means to build from simple to complex. You may think of scaffolding when you think about construction of buildings. In education, we scaffold learning by building on simple ideas, thoughts, and skills. We support children’s learning by providing a balance of support, and challenge when it comes to learning new concepts.

Scaffolding literacy then is how we help children build their literacy development by building emergent literacy through supporting phonological awareness, encoding, recognition, vocabulary and writing. When we intentionally weave literacy throughout our support of young children’s development we build literacy fluency. So how do we scaffold our day?

daily routine cards from Experience Curriculum incorporate literacy into transtions

Scaffolding Literacy in our Routines

One of the easiest ways to build literacy skills is through scaffolding our routines every day. One way you can scaffold routines is asking children predictive questions. For example, when going over your daily schedule, ask children “What is after free play?”

Allow children to identify the word or phrase on the schedule. This allows them to build concepts around literacy and begin to understand the order of the day. Another way to build literacy in our routines is to simply provide language for our own behaviors.

For example, if I am going to get blue paint from the cabinet, I may say, “Ms. Kathy is going to the cabinet for blue paint”. This allows children to build the concept of my behavior and attach a sentence to the action. You can encourage children to do this, by asking them questions in full sentences.

Scaffolding Literacy in Play

Scaffolding literacy in play is the easiest way to support children’s literacy development. You can begin this by making sure shelves are labeled and you have books in all of your play areas. When children are engaged in play, ask questions to connect concepts.

For example, If your children are playing in a sensory bin that you have intentionally set up to match a story you read during circle time, you may want to ask questions about the story you read earlier. This builds children’s recall and comprehension of literacy. Using play to scaffold literacy allows you to build on literacy skills.

For more information on how to incorporate print into your classroom read Building a Print Rich Environment.

Scaffolding literacy can allow you to not only support literacy development in your classroom or program, but can strengthen the literary development of each child in your care. Intentionally supporting literacy through scaffolding allows us to strengthen our curriculum activities, connect learning and truly support each child in their growth and learning.

Kathy Banks, EdD. Early Childhood Education

Kathy Banks, Professional Development Lead for brightwheel, has 36 years of early childhood education experience. She has held various positions, including teacher, director, multi-site director, Head Start director, CCR&R, and QRIS Director. She currently adjuncts at several colleges and universities and continues to support and inspire educators through training and practical strategies. Kathy has her Ed.D. in Early Childhood Education and is a nationally certified Family and Consumer Science Developmental Educator. Her experience and education make her a scholarly expert in child development and the realities and challenges of teaching and directing every day.