Writing Strategies

Scaffolding English Writing

Scaffolding English Writing is a strategy that helps ELL students learn the function of word sounds and sentence structure, and the role that they play when writing. Students will see writing modeled by the teacher, and learn how sentences work together to form paragraphs that follow a central idea, and when multiple paragraphs are used together, can create a story or formal writing pieces. This strategy is valuable for all English fluency levels.

Steps:

1. Provide students with a place to store their writing

2. Demonstrate the process

3. Model writing about a student chosen topic

4. Repeat writing practice often

5. Ask students to share writing

6. Reread stories often

7. Provide follow up activities that reinforce writing skills

LAFS.1112.W.1.3

Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, well-chosen details, and well-structured event sequences.

ELD.K12.ELL.LA.1

English language learners communicate information, ideas and concepts necessary for academic success in the content area of Language Arts.

Verb Action

Verb Action is a strategy that helps students to understand the correct tense and usage of verbs. Students learning the English language can sometimes struggle with verbs, adding ed on the end or an s that changes the tense into an incorrect form for their sentence. Monitoring of student mistakes is important to know which verbs need to be addressed, as it will not be all verbs that are misused by students.

Steps:

1. Monitor written work to identify misused verbs

2. Plan active experience to practice correct use

3. Collaborate with students to create an irregular verb journal

4. Create a large visual to help students with commonly misused verbs
5, Observe student writing for continued errors
6. Assess learning and effectiveness

LAFS.1112.W.2.4

Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.

ELD.K12.ELL.LA.1

English language learners communicate information, ideas and concepts necessary for academic success in the content area of Language Arts.

Syntax Surgery

Syntax Surgery is a strategy that can help students understand the grammar and sentence structure of English sentences. By helping students to dissect sentences and what the subject and predicate relationship is, they can begin to assimilate sentence structure into their comprehension and mental framework. Surgery allows the students to manipulate the order of sentences and see how they fit together correctly.

Steps:

1. Identify a problematic sentence

2. Write sentence and initiate "surgery"

3. Rearrange the words

4. Practice with same pattern

5. Assess student progress

LAFS.1112.W.2.6

Use technology, including the Internet, to produce, publish, and update individual or shared writing products in response to ongoing feedback, including new arguments or information.

ELD.K12.ELL.LA.1

English language learners communicate information, ideas and concepts necessary for academic success in the content area of Language Arts.

Story Reenactment

Story Reenactment is a strategy that asks students to act out stories after reading them. This can be very beneficial while teaching writing, by have students act out parts of their own narratives, and see where errors have been made. Seeing the story visually rather than just on paper can be great for students to see how words carry real meaning, and that they have literal importance. 

Steps:

1. Write the story

2. Retell the story

3. Gather or make props

4. Use props and movement for retelling

5. Assess the retelling

LAFS.1112.W.4.10

Write routinely over extended time frames (time for research, reflection, and revision) and shorter time frames (a single sitting or a day or two) for a range of tasks, purposes, and audiences.

ELD.K12.ELL.LA.1

English language learners communicate information, ideas and concepts necessary for academic success in the content area of Language Arts.

Language Focus Lessons

Language Focus Lessons is a strategy that emphasizes the learning of vocabulary and usage for their application to writing. In spending time on how words associate with meaning, students gain an understanding of non fiction writing, and how the word usage is different than in a narrative. This is a valuable tool for upper level English fluency students, who are beginning to accomplish grade level English work.

Steps:

1. Observe and note English errors

2. Gather visuals

3. Explain and model language use

4. Practice with visuals

5. Practice with writing

6. Assess writing

LAFS.1112.W.1.1

Write arguments to support claims in an analysis of substantive topics or texts, using valid reasoning and relevant and sufficient evidence.

ELD.K12.ELL.LA.1

English language learners communicate information, ideas and concepts necessary for academic success in the content area of Language Arts.

Reference:Herrell, A. L., Jordan, M., & Herrell, A. L. (2012). 50 strategies for teaching English language learners. Boston: Pearson.