Curriculum
Individualization through Multiple Layers of Scaffolding
All Tools activities are designed to be multi-level. Children
of different levels of ability are able to engage in the same activities
so that they are learning, but at different levels. Teachers learn
to scaffold learning at different levels within the same activity.
For example in Graphics Practice, all of the children are drawing
circles to music, but one child may be working on just holding the
marker with sufficient stability to make a mark, another child is
practicing making a continuous line that has a bend in it, another
child is practicing making a circle that closes, another child is
practicing making a circle starting from the top and holding the
marker in a 3-point grasp and still another is practicing making
the circles the same size. Teachers learn how to increase the challenge
for each child and to scaffold appropriately, which means providing
support and withdrawing that support depending on how quickly the
child is learning. Because most of the instruction is done on a
one-to-one basis, teachers have the time and luxury of tailoring
everything to what a specific child needs at that moment.