Writers’ Workshop: Teaching Writing to English Learners Increasing 1st and 2nd grade Student Interest in Reading and Writing by Supplementing the Open Court Curriculum with Reader’s Theater, Writer’s Workshop, and Video Production. By Mathew Needleman

Year One: Reader’s Theater What Is It? Engaging repeated reading with an authentic purpose Children prepare to make a movie by reading and rehearsing a script

The City Mouse and the Country Mouse

Classroom inquiry project goals: year one engage students in repeated reading with an authentic purpose increase reading fluency increase students interest in reading for pleasure

Results of Participating in Film students at benchmark Increased Enthusiasm for Reading

Year Two: Writing for Pleasure Why? Students are normally taught to write because the teacher says so and not to: reach audiences express feelings communicate entertain

The research question: Can student participation in writer’s workshop positively impact writing on Open Court unit topics?

The writer’s workshop described in the Open Court Reading Manual Students write on an assigned Open Court unit topic They move at the same pace (all students write a story one day, edit it the next, revise and publish the next, etc.). There is little room to change the focus of the essay, try new things, or explore different genres

Scaffolding for teaching Open Court Writing with ELLs

Disadvantages of Open Court workshop model Students often have to learn three foreign languages at once Some decreased student engagement Many ELLs left behind English Learners often had difficulty participating in the process.

Writer’s Workshop as it evolved over the year Students chose their own topics Students moved at their own pace within decided upon deadlines Students could explore different genres and topics without commitment

Advantages Students became more engaged in writing on topics of their own choosing. Students had familiarity with topic and only had to learn the writing process

Prewriting

Drafting

Revising/Proofreading

Publishing

Jonathan

Jonathan’s Film

Why Use Technology with ELLs? Audio and visuals assist ELLs with constructing meaning Provides real audience beyond the classroom Promotes higher level thinking Teaches 21st Century skills to close the Digital Divide

“Today’s graduates need to be critical thinkers, problem solvers, and effective communicators who are proficient in both core subjects and new, 21st-century content and skills.” from “Results that Matter: 21st Century Skills and High School Reform” a report issued in March by the Partnership for 21st Century Skills

completed student video projects