IN THIS ARTICLE

Teaching with Reading Scaffolds
Using Reading Scaffolds

Reading Scaffolds

Reading Scaffolds help students make meaning of what is being read. On activities where Reading Scaffolds are available (like Connected Texts), students can get help understanding what they’re reading with a click.

By using Reading Scaffolds, you can help students of all abilities find the support they need to engage with grade-level texts.

Students and teachers can click on a word or sentence to see a word definition, hear the word read aloud, and see a simplified version of the full sentence.

In any text that offers Reading Scaffolds, hover over a word and click on it to choose whether you want Word Help or Sentence Help:

An image of a text passage showing a sentence highlighted and the select word "invisible" with a pop up offering Word Help and Sentence Help

Teaching with Reading Scaffolds

We know that teachers need to support differentiation for learners at all levels or abilities within a single classroom. By using Reading Scaffolds, students and their teachers can easily find the support students need with reading comprehension to unlock more background knowledge about a topic.

Using Reading Scaffolds

Hover over a word in the passage to see the word highlighted. A highlighted word tells you that Reading Scaffolds are available for that word. Click on the highlighted word to see the Word Help or Sentence Help options.

Word Help

Choose Word Help to see a simple definition of the word in the context of the passage:

An animation of a cursor clicking the word Invisible in a text passage to see the definition provided by Reading Scaffolds: "Impossible to see; not visible to the eye, like air or some types of light"

The definition also includes the part of speech. Click on the speaker icon to hear the word or definition read aloud:

An example definition provided by Reading Scaffolds for the word "invisible" (adjective): Impossible to see; something that cannot be perceived by the eyes, like air or very small objects

Sentence Help

Choose Sentence Help to see a simplified version of the full sentence:

Reading Scaffolds in Question Text

We know that extended text passages are not the only place students may need a little help with comprehension. On activities where Reading Scaffolds are offered, you can use them in the text of the assessment questions too:

An image showing the highlighted word "statement" in the assessment question 2: "Which statement describes the central idea of the text?" Reading Scaffolds offer Word Help and Sentence Help

Reading Heatmap

Teachers can use the key to highlight where students sought help with challenging words, sentences, or both. The highlight color shows the number of students who selected it for Word or Sentence Help, and hovering over the highlighted word or sentence shows the name of the specific students who selected it for support.

With these data-driven insights, teachers can reinforce important words and concepts with individual students, small groups, or the entire class, taking the guesswork out of independent practice and driving instructional next steps.

An animation showing a cursor selecting "Word" or "Sentence" in the Reading Heatmap Key to highlight words or sentences where students sought help. When "Word" is selected, certain words are highlighted. When "Sentence" is selected, sentences are also highlighted. The cursor hovers over a highlighted word and then a highlighted sentence, with a pop up showing the names of specific students each time.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I tell if an activity includes Reading Scaffolds?

For now Reading Scaffolds are only available on Connected Texts. As we expand them, activities with Reading Scaffolds will display the ✨AI Scaffolds pill above the activity, where you find other key information about it like time estimates or whether it is Auto-Graded. Choose the info tooltip to learn more about the scaffolds:

An image of an AI Scaffolds tag, with an informational pop-up that reads: "This text includes AI-powered scaffolds to support comprehension of words and sentences. Student interaction with these scaffolds is not used to improve AI models. Scaffolds can be turned off when you assign the text." The pop up includes a link to: "Privacy Policy."

Where do the definitions and simplified sentences come from?

Reading Scaffolds are powered by AI. We use AI to generate student-friendly and contextually relevant scaffold content. Our AI evaluation process includes both human and automated reviews to ensure the highest standard of safety and accuracy. To make this clear, the "Made with AI" label is always shown on any content that has been generated by AI.

An image of a Word Scaffold definition, showing a purple label reading "Made with AI"

As explained in the tooltip above, we do not use student interaction with the scaffolds to improve AI models.

To read more about how we approach the use of AI transparently, responsibly, and securely, check out this article: AI in BrainPOP: Our Guiding Ethos

Are all words selectable in a passage that offers Reading Scaffolds?

No. As you explore Reading Scaffolds, you may notice that not all words are selectable. For example, articles, prepositions, numerals, and dates will not be selectable since they can be tricky to define simply and accurately in the context of the passage.

Can Reading Scaffolds be disabled?

Yes. If you decide Reading Scaffolds aren’t the right fit for a particular assignment, you can turn them off for students right in the Assignment Builder:

An image showing the AI Reading Scaffolds setting in the BrainPOP Assignment builder. Below the "Choose a Mode" setting offering Practice Mode, Graded Mode, or Both Modes, the setting for AI Reading Scaffolds appears. It reads "This text includes AI-powered scaffolds to support comprehension of words and sentences. Student interaction with these scaffolds is not used to improve AI models. Scaffolds can be turned off when you assign the text." Following the description is a link to the Privacy Policy and a setting toggle turned ON

Reading Scaffolds will remain enabled by default for Teachers, and Students will see them enabled by default on unassigned activities where Reading Scaffolds are available.

Why do I sometimes see different definitions of the same word?

The definitions provided by Word Help are designed to incorporate the context of the sentence and the passage where the word appears. That means that when the same word appears in a different text passage, or in a different sentence in the same text passage, the definition may vary to reflect the way the word's meaning changes depending on how it is being used.

What can I do if I notice a mistake or problem with the definition?

If you notice that something is off about a definition from Word Help or a simplified sentence from Sentence Help, we encourage you to choose the option to Report an issue right inside the scaffold to let us know!