How can a teacher scaffold SAFMEDS practice for beginners?

Scaffolding SAFMEDS practice for beginners involves breaking down the learning process into manageable steps to help students build their skills and confidence progressively. Starting with fewer cards allows students to focus on mastering a smaller set of information without feeling overwhelmed. As they become proficient with these initial cards, the teacher can gradually introduce more cards into their practice sessions. This method supports gradual skill development and helps learners experience success, which can enhance their motivation and engagement.

Choosing the number of cards from the outset must consider the students' current knowledge and fluency levels. Providing extensive written instructions, while potentially helpful, does not directly facilitate active engagement with the material in the way that gradually increasing the number of cards does. Similarly, allowing students to choose their cards could lead them to select too many or inappropriate ones, which may hinder the structured learning process essential for beginners. Thus, the most effective approach is to start simple and build complexity over time.