Teachers, I need your help!

[Trillian]

Part of an essay question I have is 'Why is scaffolding important for Language learning?" and my response is along the lines of it is important because it gives the teacher a clearer understanding of their student and their level of knowledge, and this allows them to cater for their needs and better support their future learning and then supported with a reference to language being the main resource that both teachers and students use. But is that on the right track?

[Ginger]

it also builds a strong foundation and a base for them to always come back to if they get stuck in their future learning iykwim?
that makes no sense does it?
idk how to say it...
like, they have to build on their past knowledge to move through

[Ryatha]

Yep - and giving scaffolding enables the teacher to gradually reduce the scaffolding as the student learns how to build their own. As the student learns more, by building up their own knowledge, they no longer need teacher supplied scaffolding. But if the scaffolding wasn't there at all, they wouldn't have anything to attach the 'original' knowledge to.

[Ginger]

that's it ryatha!