What strategy enhances participation in text-based discussions for students with language-expression challenges?

Providing relevant sentence or language frames is a strategy that particularly supports students with language-expression challenges by scaffolding their ability to articulate ideas and responses during text-based discussions. Language frames are structured sentences that give students a template to fill in based on their thoughts or understanding of the text they are discussing.

This approach helps students organize their thoughts and reduces the cognitive load associated with language production, allowing them to focus on the content of their responses rather than getting stuck on how to express those ideas. For instance, frames might prompt students to start their sentences with phrases like, "I think that..." or "The author shows that...," which guides them in contributing to discussions meaningfully and confidently.

Engaging in smaller groups or pairing with advanced readers can also foster participation, but they may not directly address the specific communication barriers that students with language-expression challenges face. Asking key-detail questions is helpful for comprehension but does not necessarily provide students with the tools to express their understanding clearly. In contrast, sentence frames empower students by giving them the necessary language structure to engage and participate effectively in discussions.