Scaffolds and formulaic writing carry an enormous responsibility: the responsibility to go away. Be gone! BANISHED! They must serve their purpose, and then skedaddle. But how do we teachers help students know when to take off the training wells? The paradox of scaffolding helps them get started but also sends the message that they are not capable of thinking on their own. We’ve been using the same scaffold for two years now in my building and I’ve lost my own ability to take off the training wheels and ride freely, and show students how to do so.

Recognizing this while giving feedback to students this morning, my mission became clear: to find ways to dismantle scaffolds.

TO THE INTERNET!

Well, heck. When I research this, most of the sites advise how to scaffold with students, not to what to do to tear them down so students can do this independently. And after twelve years of teaching middle school students, they will push back when you want them to grow and become more independent. That push-back is a strong indicator of progress and growth.

What I am going to try this morning when I confer with this student and others who may need this help, is to be straight-forward and have them do the tried-and-true method of reading it out loud, see what sounds boring and formulaic to them, and what are they really, truly trying to say: what is the “so what?” of their thinking/learning. The “So What?” was one of my eureka moments years ago, and like all good insight, turns out it’s shared by many. I came across this document (So What/Now What) and in journalism why it matters.

Stay tuned.