Since the beginning of the school year, each
Monday, I’ve been posting about the
importance of understanding the key elements of finely-crafted expository
nonfiction and helping students identify those features as they read and
include them as they write.
For the first few weeks, I focused on the
pre-writing process. Then, last week, I turned my attention to text
characteristics and discussed text format. You can scroll down to read those
posts.
pre-writing process. Then, last week, I turned my attention to text
characteristics and discussed text format. You can scroll down to read those
posts.
Today, I’m going to look at an element of
nonfiction writing that may be new to you—text scaffolding, a term that I first
heard in a lecture by uber-talented children’s book editor Alyssa Pusey.
nonfiction writing that may be new to you—text scaffolding, a term that I first
heard in a lecture by uber-talented children’s book editor Alyssa Pusey.
As
you probably know, when a teacher utilizes instructional scaffolding, she gives
students the support they need to gradually learn a new skill or concept. In the same way, an author can provide support to help readers
understand a complex idea.
you probably know, when a teacher utilizes instructional scaffolding, she gives
students the support they need to gradually learn a new skill or concept. In the same way, an author can provide support to help readers
understand a complex idea.
Because children have limited prior knowledge and may
have trouble thinking abstractly, nonfiction books often include clusters of
sentences that slowly build an explanation. Authors start by meeting readers
where they are. Then they craft a series of connected sentences that act like
building blocks to guide student thinking as they gradually develop an
understanding of the concept.
have trouble thinking abstractly, nonfiction books often include clusters of
sentences that slowly build an explanation. Authors start by meeting readers
where they are. Then they craft a series of connected sentences that act like
building blocks to guide student thinking as they gradually develop an
understanding of the concept.
Here’s the example Alyssa shared with me:
On page 7 of Super Gear: Nanotechnology and Sports Team Up, author Jennifer Swanson “deftly employs text
scaffolding to explain why nanomaterials have a large surface area.
scaffolding to explain why nanomaterials have a large surface area.
—She begins by clearly defining the term surface
area, in case it’s new to her readers.
—Next, she uses an everyday example (a potato being cut into french fries) to
show how surface area increases as an item (the potato) is cut into smaller and
smaller pieces.
—She then forges a connection between this example and nanoparticles, which are
like billions and billions of itty-bitty potato pieces.
—Finally, she describes how these billions of pieces give the nanomaterial a
much greater surface area than that of a regular substance.”
Because Swanson’s precisely worded sentences
build one upon another, step by step, readers feel supported as they move from
one idea to the next, and ultimately, gain a clear and accurate understanding
of the complex information.
build one upon another, step by step, readers feel supported as they move from
one idea to the next, and ultimately, gain a clear and accurate understanding
of the complex information.
To help students understand how text
scaffolding works, use a document camera to display page 7 of Super Gear: Nanotechnology and Sports Team
Up on the your classroom interactive whiteboard and show students the steps
Jennifer Swanson uses to help readers build an understanding of why
nanomaterials have a large surface area.
scaffolding works, use a document camera to display page 7 of Super Gear: Nanotechnology and Sports Team
Up on the your classroom interactive whiteboard and show students the steps
Jennifer Swanson uses to help readers build an understanding of why
nanomaterials have a large surface area.
Next, divide the class into small groups and
pass out copies of either expository or narrative nonfiction titles that deal with complex topics. Two of my recent favorites are Hedy Lamarr’s Double
Life: Hollywood Legend and Brilliant Inventor by Laurie Wallmark and Mario
and the Hole in the Sky: How a Chemist Saved Our Planet by Liz Rusch.
Encourage each team to read
their book together and mark examples of text scaffolding with a sticky note.
They should also make a quick note about the concept being explained. When the
groups seem ready, invite the teams to share their findings with one another.
pass out copies of either expository or narrative nonfiction titles that deal with complex topics. Two of my recent favorites are Hedy Lamarr’s Double
Life: Hollywood Legend and Brilliant Inventor by Laurie Wallmark and Mario
and the Hole in the Sky: How a Chemist Saved Our Planet by Liz Rusch.
Encourage each team to read
their book together and mark examples of text scaffolding with a sticky note.
They should also make a quick note about the concept being explained. When the
groups seem ready, invite the teams to share their findings with one another.
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One Response
I read both Jen Swanson's SUPER GEAR and Laurie Wallmark's HEDY LAMARR'S DOUBLE LIFE. I am impressed with the scaffolding in these works, and definitely will apply this strategy to my future nonfiction books.