Skip Navigation

Learning the Strategy

After learning about the final four activities, you have the opportunity to participate in a matching activity as you review those activities. Below are four scenarios describing VPK teachers who provide opportunities where help is needed, model desired responses, alter routines, and expand the child’s response. As you read the scenarios, try to match them to the appropriate activity. 

Read the scenarios and choose your answer from the dropdown list to the right. The answer will appear above the dropdown list.

1.
  1. Provide Opportunity Where Help is Needed is the correct answer.
  1. Oops! Provide Opportunity Where Help is Needed is the correct answer.
During circle time, Mrs. Smith asks LaQuonda to get the book, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, from a shelf that is higher than LaQuonda can reach. Mrs. Smith intentionally does this to see if LaQuonda will request her help or another child to help her get the book.
2.
  1. Model Desired Response is the correct answer.
  1. Oops! Model Desired Response is the correct answer.
On a nature walk, Jacob sees a butterfly and says to Mrs. Smith, “Look, fly!” Mrs. Smith replies to Jacob, “Yes, I see that butterfly.” She then prompts, “Jacob, say ‘butterfly.’”
3.
  1. Alter Routines is the correct answer.

  1. Oops! Alter Routines is the correct answer.
It is snack time in Mrs. Smith’s classroom. Mrs. Smith passes out applesauce to the children and asks them to begin eating their snack. Instead of handing out spoons to the children, she “mistakenly” hands out short sticks that cannot be used as spoons for eating. Mrs. Smith waits for the children to notice and comment on the mistake before handing out the spoons.
4.
  1. Expand Child’s Response is the correct answer.
  1. Oops! Expand Child’s Response is the correct answer.
Elijah approaches Mrs. Smith and shows her his hands. He says, “Dirt!” Mrs. Smith expands on what Elijah has said, while helping him wash his hands. She replies, “Yes, your hands have dirt on them. Your hands are dirty! Let’s get them nice and clean.” Mrs. Smith makes sure to use the word “dirt” in her reply to Elijah.

Before going to Observing the Strategy, use what you have learned throughout the ten videos and activities to reflect on the questions below.

LET'S REFLECT

Let's Reflect According to research, when is the best time to enhance children’s language?

How do you address language and vocabulary development in your classroom?

Are you using any of the Language Scaffolding activities right now?

What are three of the ten ways you can incorporate and elicit language from the children everyday?

Are there Language Scaffolding activities for which you need more practice?

Which Language Scaffolding activities do you want to learn more about?

For a quick reminder on how to use this strategy in your classroom, please see the Quick View document within the Using the Strategy step of this folder. There is also a Full Page Version and Half Page Version, which can be hung in your classroom, explaining each of these ten activities. These documents can be found in the Using the Strategystepof the this folder.

BackNext