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5 Tips for scaffolding your lesson plans for students with disabilities

If you are a Special Ed teacher of students with disabilities, or if you have a student in your class who receives special education services, using scaffolded lesson plans can be extremely beneficial. These plans provide a gradual and supportive introduction to new material, which can help improve students’ understanding and mastery of concepts. Additionally, scaffolded plans can help students retain more information, as they are constantly reviewing previously learned material and having new skills introduced in smaller bite-size lessons.


There are many different ways to use scaffolded lesson plans in your Special Education classroom. One option is to create a scaffolded unit plan. This type of plan gradually introduces new material while revisiting previously learned concepts. You can also use scaffolded lesson plans within a single lesson. For example, you can start by providing a brief overview of the concept you will be teaching. Then, you can provide more detailed information and examples. Finally, you can give students the opportunity to practice what they have learned.


No matter how you choose to use scaffolded lesson plans in your classroom, it is important to remember that these plans should be designed to meet the individual needs of your students. If you have a student with a disability, be sure to tailor the plan to his or her specific needs. With a little bit of planning and creativity, you can use scaffolded lesson plans to help all of your students learn and succeed.


Types of scaffolded lesson plans

A scaffolded lesson plan is a plan that helps teachers to provide students with the appropriate level of support.


There are three main types of scaffolded lesson plans:

Worksheet lesson plans

In this type of lesson plan, students complete worksheets that help them to learn the material. Worksheet lesson plans are ideal for teaching basic skills in small repeatable bits or for review of previously mastered skills. But the main purpose is for alignment to IEP goal progression. Worksheets provide work samples that computer software programs can not. In addition, they offer a permanent record of what has been learned.

Skills worksheet scaffolding lesson plan for intervention

Skill lesson plans

Skills lesson plans are designed to help students learn and practice new skills. In this type of lesson plan, each step of the skill is taught in detail before allowing students to practice the skill. This type of lesson plan is ideal for introducing new material or for teaching complex skills.


How to create a skill lesson plan:

  1. Choose the skill you want to teach.

  2. Decide on the objectives for the lesson.

  3. Create a lesson plan outline.

  4. Find or create materials to support the lesson.

  5. Scaffold the lesson by breaking it down into manageable

Project lesson plans

In this type of lesson plan, students work on a project. Project lesson plans are ideal for teaching higher-level skills or for exploring a topic in depth.

Each type of scaffolded lesson plan has its own advantages and disadvantages. Worksheet lesson plans are simple to use and are ideal for teaching basic skills or reviewing the material. However, they can be boring for students. Skill lesson plans are more complex than worksheet lesson plans, but they allow students to learn a skill in depth.


The benefits of using scaffolded lesson plans

Scaffolded lesson plans have a number of benefits.

They:

  • Provide students with the support they need to succeed

  • Help students to learn more effectively

  • Help teachers to plan and deliver lessons more effectively

If you are looking for a way to help your students learn more effectively, scaffolded lesson plans may be the answer.


How to create a scaffolded unit plan

Now that you know what scaffolded lesson plans are and the benefits they offer, it is time to learn how to create a scaffolded unit plan. A scaffolded unit plan is a plan that helps teachers to organize their lessons and provide students with the appropriate level of support.


There are three main steps to creating a scaffolded unit plan:

  • Choose the lesson objective

  • Select the lesson activities

  • Plan for scaffolding

Choosing the lesson objective is the first step to creating a scaffolded unit plan. The lesson objective is the goal that you want your students to achieve by the end of the lesson. For example, if you are teaching a lesson on addition, your lesson objective might be for students to be able to add two numbers together.


The next step is to select the lesson activities. The lesson activities are the tasks that students will complete in order to achieve the lesson objective. For example, if you are teaching a lesson on addition, your lesson activities might include having students solve addition problems, completing an addition worksheet, or playing an addition game.


Once you have selected the lesson activities, it is time to plan for scaffolding. Scaffolding is the support that you will provide to students in order to help them complete the lesson activities. For example, if you are teaching a lesson on addition, your scaffolding might include providing students with a number line to use when solving addition problems, having students work in pairs to complete the addition worksheet, or giving students extra time to complete the addition game.


How to use scaffolded lesson plans within a lesson

Now that you know what scaffolded lesson plans are and the benefits they offer, it is time to learn how to use them within a lesson.


There are three main steps to using scaffolded lesson plans within a lesson:

  • Introduce the lesson objective

  • Introduce the lesson activities

  • Provide scaffolding

The first step is to introduce the lesson objective. The lesson objective is the goal that you want your students to achieve by the end of the lesson. For example, if you are teaching a lesson on addition, your lesson objective might be for students to be able to add two numbers together.


The next step is to introduce the lesson activities. The lesson activities are the tasks that students will complete in order to achieve the lesson objective. For example, if you are teaching a lesson on addition, your lesson activities might include having students solve addition problems, completing an addition worksheet, or playing an addition game.


Once you have introduced the lesson activities, it is time to provide scaffolding. Scaffolding is the support that you will provide to students in order to help them complete the lesson activities. For example, if you are teaching a lesson on addition, your scaffolding might include providing students with a number line to use when solving addition problems, having students work in pairs to complete the addition worksheet, or giving students extra time to complete the addition game.


Tips for teachers who are new to scaffolded lesson plans

If you are new to scaffolded lesson plans, there are a few tips that you can use to help you get started.


Start with one lesson objective.

When you are first starting out, it is best to focus on one lesson objective. This will help you to keep your lesson focused and will make it easier for you to plan for scaffolding.

Choose lesson activities that are appropriate for your students.

Not all lesson activities will require scaffolding. It is important to choose lesson activities that are appropriate for your students and that will benefit from scaffolding.


Plan for scaffolding ahead of time.

Once you have selected the lesson activities, take some time to plan for scaffolding. This will help to ensure that you have the tools and support in place to help your students succeed.


Be prepared to adjust your lesson plans.

As you become more familiar with scaffolded lesson plans, you may find that you need to adjust your lesson plans. Be prepared to make changes as needed in order to best meet the needs of your students.


The importance of individualization in special education

One of the most important aspects of planning lessons for special education is individualization. This means that each student receives instruction that is tailored specifically to their needs. Individualization is essential for students with special needs because it allows them to learn in a way that is best suited for them.


There are many different ways to provide individualized instruction in special education. One way is to create lesson plans that are specifically designed for each student. This ensures that each student is working on skills that are appropriate for their level.


Another way to provide individualized instruction is to use skill-specific or spiraling worksheets and other materials that are geared towards the individual needs of each student. This allows students to work at their own pace and to focus on the skills that they need to improve on most.


Both of these methods of individualization are important for students with special needs. By providing instruction that is specifically tailored to their needs, students are able to make progress and reach their full potential.


How to get started with scaffolded lesson plans in your own classroom

If you are looking to start using scaffolded lesson plans in your own classroom, there are a few things that you can do to get started.


Start with one lesson objective.

When you are first starting out, it is best to focus on one lesson objective. This will help you to keep your lesson focused and will make it easier for you to plan for scaffolding.


Choose lesson activities that are appropriate for your students.

Not all lesson activities will require scaffolding. It is important to choose lesson activities that are appropriate for your students and that will benefit from scaffolding.


Plan for scaffolding ahead of time.

Once you have selected the lesson activities, take some time to plan for scaffolding. This will help to ensure that you have the tools and support in place to help your students succeed.


Scaffolding is an important tool for teachers to use when working with special education students. By planning ahead and scaffolding lesson activities, teachers can provide the support necessary for students to be successful.


Be prepared to adjust your lesson plans.

As you become more familiar with scaffolded lesson plans, you may find that you need to adjust your lesson plans. Be prepared to make changes as needed in order to best meet the needs of your students.


By following these tips, you can start using scaffolded lesson plans in your own classroom with ease. Scaffolded lesson plans are an excellent way to provide individualized instruction to your students and can help them to reach their full potential. Don't hesitate to get started with them today!


To learn more about scaffolding, please visit our website. There, you can find lesson plans and worksheets that will help you to scaffold your lessons. You can also find information on special education, and how to help your students succeed.

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