{"id":1225,"date":"2021-12-26T20:43:35","date_gmt":"2021-12-27T01:43:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/teachalicious.com\/?p=1225"},"modified":"2021-12-26T23:16:14","modified_gmt":"2021-12-27T04:16:14","slug":"4-instructional-strategies-to-engage-emergent-bilinguals-in-writing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/teachalicious.com\/?p=1225","title":{"rendered":"Emergent Bilinguals: How To Get Them Writing Today"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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I used to think teaching writing to emergent bilinguals in a dual language program was too difficult. I felt unsuccessful whenever we had to complete a writing project. (You can read more about my journey as a bilingual educator<\/a> here)<\/p>

Then, I learned that writing with emergent bilinguals looks different<\/b> than monolingual classrooms. Writing in the primary bilingual classroom can be successful <\/b>AND it is important to not avoid it. Here are 5 instructional practices that I’ve used to support my 1st grade bilingual class writing.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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1. Sentence frames & visual vocabulary<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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Providing a simple sentence frame and visuals of vocabulary is an easy way to help emergent bilinguals with tools that they can mix & match to create simple sentences.\u00a0<\/p>

Before writing, students should practice speaking using the sentence frame and vocabulary in partners or small groups.\u00a0<\/p>

This helps students familiarize themselves with the sentence structure and the vocabulary they will use to write their own sentences.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Paper\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
Bilingual journal for daily writing practice<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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This is a great tool to scaffold writing. It may seem that students are just “copying” but it helps students make a connection between what they say and what they write.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Sentence frames are helpful, but they should <\/span>not <\/b>be the only instructional strategy used in writing. It is important to help students understand that they may use the sentence frame if they need the support but the ultimate goal is for students to write sentences independently.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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2. Guided writing with emergent bilinguals<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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This instructional strategy is usually used in small groups but it can also be done with the whole class.<\/p>

Emergent bilinguals in Kindergarten and 1st grade benefit greatly from this strategy.<\/span>\u00a0<\/p>

Writing with this strategy is collaborative and requires all students to participate verbally and in writing.\u00a0 This is the format I follow for guided writing.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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First, have students share with a partner one key detail or key event of a text they’ve read (or heard)<\/p>\n

Next, select one key detail or key event that students share and re-state it in a simple sentence with 4-7 words (for example: the tadpole grows legs).<\/p>\n

Then, have students repeat the sentence while you put one finger up for each word in the sentence. <\/p>\n

Afterwards, ask students to name the first word in the sentence, then write it. Model how to start with a capital letter and leave space between words and punctuation. Repeat with all the words in the sentence until the entire sentence is written.<\/p>\n

Finally, have students share their writing and create an illustration to match their sentence. <\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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3. Dictation & emergent bilinguals<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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This instructional strategy focuses on either:<\/p>