{"id":146,"date":"2018-10-28T18:07:25","date_gmt":"2018-10-28T23:07:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/itslitteaching.wordpress.com\/?p=146"},"modified":"2023-09-30T11:39:57","modified_gmt":"2023-09-30T15:39:57","slug":"scaffolding-in-the-creative-writing-classroom","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/itslitteaching.com\/scaffolding-in-the-creative-writing-classroom\/","title":{"rendered":"Scaffolding Creative Writing: Everything You Need to Know"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

When it comes to creative writing<\/a>, I feel scaffolding is especially important. Scaffolding writing–whether with worksheets or through techniques–is especially important for struggling writers. When students, who are uncomfortable with putting their ideas on paper, find themselves in a creative writing class, scaffolds are even more important. But what does it mean to scaffold writing? And what does scaffolding look like in a creative writing class?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pinterest pin cover for blog post: \"Scaffolding Creative Writing: Everything You Need to Know\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

What is “Scaffolding”?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The term scaffolding comes from construction work. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

When new construction projects begin, usually supports are erected to help construction workers move materials, to give them a foundation to work on, and to otherwise aid in general construction. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Likewise, when students are constructing their new projects, they, too, need scaffolding; without it, they have to create with very little support.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Scaffolding is the supports that we, as their teachers, put up to support student writing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the classroom, scaffolding can take shape in many ways. It can be the outline for an essay or the sentence starters for a classroom discussion. <\/span>One of my favorite scaffolds is a graphic organizer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Anything you do that helps students get ideas on paper can be a writing scaffold.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a creative writing class, however, where rules are meant to be broken, <\/strong><\/span>providing that scaffolding can be a challenge.<\/strong> How, then, do you guide students and provide support without limiting their creativity? Do you even really need it at all?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pinterest pin cover for blog post: \"Scaffolding Creative Writing: Everything You Need to Know\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Why Should We Use Scaffolding in Creative Writing?<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If the purpose of creative writing is to let students experience more freedom in writing, why even bother with scaffolding?<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Scaffolding Writing Builds Confidence<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Even my best writers are often unsure of themselves. Providing some guidelines, requirements, or outlines reassures them that what they’re writing is “right.” <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Often, my students struggle in a class that has “no right answers,” so providing scaffolding helps ease their anxiety about writing a “wrong” poem or story.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

It’s crazy, but a blank page and no rules really makes some students anxious!<\/strong> Especially when they’ve been trained their whole lives to regurgitate “correct” answers in order to make teachers happy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Scaffolding Writing Gives Students a Starting Point<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If students know they have to get from point A to point B, generally they can at least get started. Too much freedom can cause students to freeze up, write forever with no stopping point, or spend too much time brainstorming ideas and not actually writing.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Scaffolding helps students get started and guides them through the process of making it to the end.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n