California Teacher of English Learners (CTEL) Practice Exam 2025 – All-in-One Resource for Exam Success!

Scaffolding in education involves breaking down assignments into manageable steps to provide support to students as they learn new concepts. This instructional strategy allows educators to gradually increase the complexity of the tasks as students gain confidence and understanding. By structuring learning experiences in smaller, more digestible chunks, teachers can ensure that students are not overwhelmed and can build on their existing knowledge base effectively. This method also enables students to receive immediate feedback and assistance, helping them develop the skills necessary to complete more challenging tasks independently in the future.

In contrast, looking for resources in the community, strictly adhering to traditional teaching methods, and allowing free play without guidance do not adequately define scaffolding. These approaches can offer benefits but do not focus on the systematic support and gradual release of responsibility that scaffolding emphasizes.