Strategies

There are many instructional strategies that can enhance students writing. After reflecting on our observations, we came up with some strategies that will help these English language learners enhance their writing. These students would benefit from:
 * Partnership - Creating a partnership will help the student build reading and writing skills when working with a peer (Buteau & True, 2009). Having a partner will provide the student with support during the writing process. This partnership will also help the student to develop social skills, which in return will build the students vocabulary and communication skills. The student will then be able to apply these verbal skills to improve his or her writing.
 * Word Library/Word Wall - Displaying words can help a student build new vocabulary and use them in their writing. By having these words displayed the student will have easy access to these words and use them in his or her writing (Buteau & True, 2009).
 * Pictures – Drawing pictures will help a student brainstorm the events of their story before they begin their writing. Students also use picture to help make personal connections to their writing.
 * Reflective Writing - Using a journal or some form of reflective writing is helpful for students to develop writing skills. When students reflect in a journal they are writing frequently and are able to gather feedback from the teacher. Reflective writing is a way for students to express themselves and write freely. “Reflective writing can also provide teachers with insights into a multitude of important issues, including students’ understanding of content, their opinions about class activities and class dynamics, life experiences, and their learning processes (Samway, 2008).

Website References:

Main page for writing ideas all grade levels [] Student posters for posting in writing center: [] (Santa Maria Bonita school website) Example of Vocabulary pictures for Reading/Writing Focus Wall: [] General grade level information on Writing resources, printables, blogs, etc. www.scholastic.com -search by Writing and then grade level