Using Scaffolding Approach to Teaching Literacy

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Recommended: Relevance of literacy

Literacy is a very important skill that can affect several aspects of life. Literacy can be taught in a variety of ways, and usually begins at a young age. The ways in which literacy is taught largely impacts an individual’s ability to be literate – each method of literacy training varies and has advantages and disadvantages. Literacy is an essential skill that can be taught effectively by using a sequential process that incorporates a combination of techniques and methods based on individual need.
Literacy includes reading, writing, speaking, and listening. Children begin learning these skills typically before entering school, and will continue to learn and use these skills throughout life. Each and every individual develops a literate identity and builds personal theories of literacy (Beach & Ward, 2013). This literate identity is built and created based on how an individual is taught, and will essentially follow him/her throughout the course of his/her life. Being illiterate, or not being able to read, write, or have comprehension of language can affect the way individual’s think and feel about themselves, and can be a determining factor in how an individual interacts with others and what he/she may accomplish in life. Literacy is something that affects all individuals, whether positively or negatively, and will impact numerous aspects of their lives.
In order for literacy to be learned successfully, no single method of teaching can be enforced. Instead, learners should be exposed to a variety of methods and strategies that will ensure that what is taught is actually comprehended and learned. According to the New South Wales Department of Education and Training (2009), there are eight critical aspects of literacy development...

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...inexpressible; it can only be assumed that this is known and that all literacy learners are given the opportunity to thrive.

Works Cited

Beach, S., & Ward, A. (2013). Insights into engaged literacy learning: stories of literate identity. Journal of Research in Childhood Education, Retrieved from http://dx.doi.org/bakerezproxy.palnet.info/10.1080/02568543.2013.767290
Malcolm X. (1965). Homemade Education. In G. Goshgarian, Exploring language (13th ed., pp. 67-69). Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Pearson.
New South Wales Department of Education and Training. (2009). An introduction to quality literacy teaching: explicit, systematic, balanced, integrated. Sydney: New South Wales
Department of Education and Training.
Rodrigues, L., & Smith, B. (2014). Linking pedagogy: scaffolding literacy and first steps. Practically Primary, Retrieved from www.alea.edu.au/

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