Teaching English Language Learning (ELL) students has long been a challenge in Washington schools as our population continues to expand and diversify. But thanks to a program developed by the Columbia University Teaching College and recently implemented in Seattle Public Schools, teaching ELL students to read and write English and accelerating their success, just got a little bit easier.
The Writer’s Workshop program works with younger ELL students through daily mini-lessons that introduce a new writing technique, followed by 40 minutes of writing to help students hone their skills. According to the Seattle P-I, “They're encouraged to start by drawing pictures to illustrate their stories and gradually progress to labeling their sketches. Soon, they're using ‘best-guess’ spelling to sound out words and choose the letter or letters that match the sound.”
It may take them awhile to pick up the basics of writing, such as correct spelling, grammar and sentence structure, "but they're seeing themselves as writers, which is thrilling," said Dan Coles, literacy program manager for Seattle Public Schools. What’s also thrilling is the significant progress many students make through the program in a short amount of time. Check out the incredible improvement from one student in the program from September to November 2007.
September 2007
November 2007
The program has been in place at Seattle middle schools and in various K- 8 schools since Fall 2006. Four elementary schools are currently testing out the Writer's Workshop program this year: Coe, Olympic Hills, Madrona and Loyal Heights. District officials hope to eventually expand the program to all the elementary schools.
Hats off to the developers and instructors helping to make the Writer’s Workshop a successful program for ELL students!
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