• Home
  • ABOUT
  • Knowledge Base
    • About Writing
    • Content-Area Literacy
    • Digital Learning
    • English Learners
    • Equity & Access
    • Leading Professional Learning
    • Program Design
    • Teacher as Writer
    • Teacher Inquiry
  • Blog
    • Events & Opportunities
    • NWP Radio
    • Marginal Syllabus
  • Books
  • Contact
  • NWP.org
  • Home
  • ABOUT
  • Knowledge Base
    • About Writing
    • Content-Area Literacy
    • Digital Learning
    • English Learners
    • Equity & Access
    • Leading Professional Learning
    • Program Design
    • Teacher as Writer
    • Teacher Inquiry
  • Blog
    • Events & Opportunities
    • NWP Radio
    • Marginal Syllabus
  • Books
  • Contact
  • NWP.org

Long-Term English Learners Writing Their Stories

965 views 0

Author: Lynn Jacobs

Summary: Long-term English learners—those who typically have attended school for at least seven years—speak English well but are often considered below grade level. Because they assume many adult responsibilities in their out-of-school lives, including household duties and translating for family and others, they present opportunities for teachers of writing. Secondary classroom teachers and those planning and providing professional development focused on writing for English learners will discover several effective strategies in this article. Jacobs describes the process and outcomes of working with her students to publish a book of stories and poems. The authentic nature of writing about their lives, together with models of published texts, motivated a desire to write well and boosted their confidence as writers.

Original Date of Publication: July 2008


Download “Long-Term English Learners Writing Their Stories”

Excerpt

The students with whom I work are predominantly non-migrant Hmong and Mexican Americans. They, like other long-term English learners, know how to blend into the dominant culture, speak English well, and in many cases have adopted the same sort of “teen-speak” as their non–English learner friends. They face conflicts between the dominant culture in which they work and go to school and the home culture of their parents. Their ability to speak English places them in adult roles at a young age, as they translate for their elders. They are often expected to work after school to help support the family, and in many cases do the cooking and housework. Many have little time left to do homework, yet they are chastised by their parents when they bring home less than outstanding grades.

 

Related Resources

  • Love Ties My Shoes: Long-term English Learners as Thoughtful Writers
  • Resources for Educators of English Language Learners: An Annotated Bibliography

Copyright © 2008 by the National Council of Teachers of English. Posted with permission.
Jacobs, C. Lynn. 2008. “Long-Term English Learners Writing Their Stories.” English Journal 97 (6): 87–91. www.ncte.org

Original Source: National Writing Project, http://www.nwp.org/cs/public/print/resource/2704

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)
Tags:reading/writing connectiondual languagebilingual/bicultural
Attached Files
#
File Type
File Size
Download
1 .pdf 333.54 KB clynnjacobs_long-term

Would you recommend this resource to others?

Yes  No
ABOUT

write.learn.lead. is a collection of resources, insights, and reflections from National Writing Project teacher-leaders. You can also find us at nwp.org and Educator Innovator.

SEARCH BY TAG
agenda assessment bibliography bilingual/bicultural coaching community connected learning continuity curriculum diversity dual language elementary facilitation family grammar/correctness key reading mentor/thinking partner middle/high school multimodal narrative new teachers partnership preservice professional growth protocol publication reading/writing connection research retreat revision rural school-year program science/math social justice social studies standards study group summer program technology urban video writing center writing group writing prompt youth program
NWP Logo
NWP ON THE WEB
NWP.org
Educator Innovator
The Current
STAY CONNECTED WITH NWP
Get more great resources on teaching and writing delivered to your inbox every month by subscribing to our Write Now Newsletter.
  • © 2020 National Writing Project. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Use

 

Loading Comments...
 

    loading Cancel
    Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
    Email check failed, please try again
    Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.