A study examining the impact of scaffolding young children\u27s acquisition of literacy in primary grades

This case study explores the implementation of scaffolding in literacy learning in a first grade classroom setting. The complexities and nuisances of scaffolding present in the elementary school classroom context during reading and writing instruction are examined. Ten first graders, five from a pilot study an five from the case study, are followed in reading and writing in a public school classroom. Themes indicate that students in lower elementary grades benefit from reading and writing instruction that include the following strategic elements: 1) leveled predictable texts; 2) small group guided reading and writing instruction; 3) systematic, strategic instruction based upon performance-based observation of student\u27s interaction with texts and self-generated writing; 4)integration of reading and writing lessons; and 5) teacher/student dialogues and conversations supporting language acquisition and development of student understandings