Scaffolding Academic Texts for Multlingual Learners
Self-assessment tool for teachers, administrators and teacher educators
Scaffolding academic texts is essential for Multilingual Learners because it bridges the gap between their current language proficiency and the demands of complex, content-rich materials and academic standards. By breaking down challenging texts into manageable parts, providing vocabulary support, using visuals, and modeling comprehension strategies, scaffolding enables those new to the language to access and engage with academic content. This support fosters language development, builds confidence, and ensures equitable opportunities for success while gradually preparing them to handle texts independently.
In my newly published book, Centering Multilingual Learners: An Essential How to Guide for Secondary Teachers, I write about how academic texts can overwhelm new English speakers. Since the goal is to help students comprehend the goals or standards, manipulating text and other resource materials so it’s more accessible can help MLs reach the goal of understanding the most relevant material. Probably the most important goal is to summarize the text to focus on the key points of information through an outline, list of bulleted points, or graphic organizer. If you are fortunate enough to have an extra helper in your class, such as a student aide, paraprofessional, or more-capable peers, enlist them to do this for you.
Ideas to keep in mind:
• Decide what MLs need to learn from the text (focus on the standards or essential question) • Focus on concrete concepts first, then abstract
• Reduce nonessential details
• Relate new information to students’ experiences
• Use visual representations: maps, charts, timelines, outlines
• Simplify vocabulary but keep key concepts and technical terms
• Elaborate to explain concepts if necessary
As I am writing this list, I am thinking, as you might, who has time to adapt every text I assign to my students?
Here is a website that can help you: Rewordify [rewordify.com].
Rewordify is free online software. You’re using it now — there’s nothing to buy or install. It works on any computer, tablet, or smartphone. Just visit “rewordify.com” in your browser and start reading and learning. Also, it is tablet-friendly — no mouse needed. Your class or the entire school can create teacher and student accounts without entering any personal information. The site can help with the following:
1. Intelligently simplify difficult English, for faster comprehension.
2. Effectively teach words, for building a better vocabulary.
3. Help teachers save time and produce engaging lessons.
Here’s a “self assessment tool” from Centering Multilingual Learners (p. 39) that you can use for yourself, other teachers, or if you are a teacher educator with students in your preservice program.
Which scaffolds are you most comfortable with?
Which would you like to implement that you haven’t already?
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