Promoting English Learners’ Success Through Scaffolding

2 PD Hours

Part of creating an optimal learning environment in adult education and ESOL classes are challenging learners with rich content and tasks that represent the demands they face outside our classrooms. This can sometimes be challenging for teachers in multilevel classes, a reality of just about every English language and adult education program, where learners have varying levels of readiness for complex classroom tasks. In this session, we explore the many ways that we can scaffold classroom activities in both online and in-person environments to provide learners with the support they need to complete complex tasks. We see how to build on learners’ prior knowledge, promote supportive classroom interactions among learners, and provide various language support and tools to ensure success for learners with varying backgrounds, levels, and needs. We will provide examples of scaffolding techniques for beginning through advanced English learners so that you can consider applications to both adult education and ESOL classes.

Upon completion of this professional development activity/course, you will be able to:

• Identify ways to scaffold complex classroom tasks by building on learners’ prior knowledge, creating supportive interactions, and providing the language support needed for success
• Apply a process of scaffolding with instructional tasks from your own setting

This course is a collaboration of the ELA and ESOL PD Teams

ESOL Professional Standard Addressed: 6
Online Facilitated
IPQs Addressed: 2,4,5
Register on the SABES website: https://www.sabes.org/event/52656 

02/24/2026 - 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm