3 ways to support

content and

language learning

through writingMELANIE GONZALEZ, PH.D.

SALEM STATE UNIVERSITY

FEBRUARY 23, 2016

Activity: Writing

RoundtableOn page 2 of your handout

packet, respond to the question that corresponds with your

birthday month. Be sure to use

academic writing conventions.

When the timer rings, stop writing

and pass your paper to your left.

When you receive the new

paper, read over what your

colleague wrote and draw a starnext to sentence you like and

add a few sentences to continue

their thoughts

M. Gonzalez, Ph.D. | February 23, 2016

Birthday Month

Prompt

January,

February,

March,

April

Should writing be

included in all

academic subjects?

Why or why not?

May,

June,

July,

August

What makes a good

or effective writing

assignment?

September,

October, November,

December

What successes and

challenges do our students face when

writing?

Take the time to

write

• Assign low-stakes

and high-stakes

writing tasks that

require students to

demonstrate

understanding

• Assist students in

understanding that

writing comes in

many shapes and

sizes

• Use teacher-guided

curriculum cycle

1

M. Gonzalez, Ph.D. | February 23, 2016

Take the time to

write

Curriculum cycle to

build academic writing:

1. Build knowledge of

the topic

2. Model the text

3. Joint construction

4. Independent writing

5. Review and revise

1

M. Gonzalez, Ph.D. | February 23, 2016

Take the time to

write

Scaffolding to extend

writing:

1. Sentence/

paragraph/ essay

frames

2. Oral language

support

3. Word banks/

vocabulary sheets

4. Language

Experience

Approach

5. Writing Roundtable

1

M. Gonzalez, Ph.D. | February 23, 2016

Take the time to

write

Activities:

• Freewriting

• Journaling

• 1-minute papers

• Learning logs

• Scenarios

• “Dear reader”

memos

• Curate a portfolio

1

M. Gonzalez, Ph.D. | February 23, 2016

Use mentor texts

to model good

writing

• Backwards plan from

a model to

“deconstruct” the

elements of good

writing

• Have students reflect

on their writing and

connections

between readings

and mentor texts

2

M. Gonzalez, Ph.D. | February 23, 2016

Activity:

Deconstructing

TextExamine the text on page 3 of

your handout packet. With a

partner, complete the table.

M. Gonzalez, Ph.D. | February 23, 2016

(Gibbons, 2002, p. 58)

Use mentor texts

to model good

writing

Activity: R.A.F.T. writing

Where to find mentor

texts:

• https://k12.Thoughtfull

earning.Com/resource

s/studentmodels

• http://www.Layouth.C

om/archives/

• http://thisibelieve.org/

2

M. Gonzalez, Ph.D. | February 23, 2016

Make language

explicit

• Provide feedback

and teach self-

editing strategies

• Teach an expanded

view of vocabulary

• Identify language

features such as

grammatical

patterns,

punctuation,

organization, other

conventions

• Identify extra-textual

features

3

M. Gonzalez, Ph.D. | February 23, 2016

Make language

explicit

3

M. Gonzalez, Ph.D. | February 23, 2016

Item Example(s)

single words

Settlement; pioneer

set phrases

In other words; back and forth; time and time again

variable phrases

Subject + poised to

deliver a +adjective + noun; off and on

phrasal verbs

Come up with; put away

idioms Case of the Mondays;

Activity:

Language

AwarenessSlip the paper you wrote during

the Writing Roundtable activity

into the plastic sheet protector.

Use the dry erase marker to mark

up the sheet protector.

M. Gonzalez, Ph.D. | February 23, 2016

Birthday Month

Task

January,

February,

March,

April

Underline each word

and trace each

punctuation mark.

May,

June,

July,

August

Underline tier 1 words;

Circle tier 2 words;

Box tier 3 words

September,

October, November,

December

Circle connectives, linking words,

transition words

In sum…

1) Practice writing

frequently and

consistently

2) Teach your students

to be consumers of

writing in order to

produce it

3) Make the writing

process and

language moves

explicit

M. Gonzalez, Ph.D. | February 23, 2016

Gracias!TIME FOR QUESTIONS?

MGONZALEZ@SALEMSTATE.EDU

M. Gonzalez, Ph.D. | February 23, 2016

References

Gibbons, P. (2002). Scaffolding

language, scaffolding learning:

Teaching second language learners

in the mainstream classroom.

Portsmouth, NH: Heineman.

Herrmann, E. (2014, July). Teaching

writing to ells across the curriculum:

Strategies for success. Multibriefs.

Retrieved from:

http://exclusive.Multibriefs.Com/co

ntent/teaching-writing-to-english-

learners-across-the-curriculum-

strategies-for-s/education

L.A. Youth: The newspaper by teens,

for teens. Retrieved from:

http://www.Layouth.Com/archives/

Student model essays. Retrieved

from:

https://k12.Thoughtfullearning.Com/

resources/studentmodels

M. Gonzalez, Ph.D. | February 23, 2016