Episode 2: Five Scaffolds for the Math Classroom

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Five Scaffolds for the Math Classroom

These scaffolds can be used in any classroom where math is taught! You may have to adapt them to fit your group or content.

1. Tools

Tools as scaffolds refers to extra pieces to help students in the learning process. Things that do not take away the academic rigor, but assist students in being able to achieve the goal of the lesson.

An example of this would be a multiplication chart. If a student struggles with number sense and basic operations, most concepts in math will be challenging. By providing the student with a multiplication chart, you are giving the student a tool to assist in the overall learning process.

Read about how to teach linear equations to struggling students here!

2. Guided Notes

When we take notes, I typically follow the “I do, we do, you do” method. This means the first problem or example is me, as the teacher, walking through the problem. I am explaining things as I am introducing a new concept or idea to my students.

The next problem that goes in our notes is a “we do” problem. This means that there is collaboration between me and the students. I will do a portion of the problem and then have them do a piece. That back and forth with strategic questioning takes place until the problem is complete.

Finally once students have seen a problem, collaborated with me on a problem, I give them a problem to do on their own. I don’t expect perfection, but they have the tools to give it a solid effort. When they are done, I usually have them turn and check in with a neighbor to see if they got similar results.

And that is the “I do, we do, you do” method! It works great for slowly giving students independence in the learning process.

Check out my done-for-you guided notes for Math 8 and Algebra 1 here!