Writing Ideas from the Classroom

By: Colorín Colorado (2008)

This article offers some ideas from ELL educators around the country about getting ELL students (children, adolescents, and adults) to write more enthusiastically and creatively.

Writing a Winning Essay

By: Kristina Robertson (2008)

As part of assessments and/or high school graduation requirements in many states, students must pass a writing test. For ELL students, the writing test often poses one of the biggest challenges in testing and in meeting graduation requirements. In this month's Bright Ideas article, we offer a strategy for overcoming those obstacles and writing a strong five-paragraph essay. The article outlines the process from start to finish, starting with helping students develop a deeper understanding of writing test requirements to planning, organizing, and editing the essay's final draft.

Helping Young Children Develop Strong Writing Skills

By: Colorín Colorado (2008)

Writing is an important part of our daily lives, but it is a difficult skill to learn and master. By getting a head start with some simple activities, though, you can help your child begin to develop her writing skills at an early age. By doing so you will be contributing to her future success as a student and as an adult while teaching her how to express herself.
In this article, we provide some of the reasons that writing is so important in our lives, as well as a list of suggestions that will help your child become a stronger writer.

Tips for Parents of Struggling Adolescent Writers

(2008)

By the time American students graduate from high school, they are expected to have learned how to write effectively for a variety of purposes, from writing letters and stories to essays and research reports. Many middle and high school students dislike writing, however, and students who are learning English as a second language may have particular difficulty with writing. In this article we will discuss some of the reasons that older students may want to avoid writing, as well as some ways that you can help your teen become a better writer.

Improving Writing Skills – ELLs and the Joy of Writing

By: Colorín Colorado (2007)

There is a very important correlation between writing and language development. Find out how you can help your ELLs improve their writing skills. Find ideas on differentiating writing activities, and other ways to help ELLs discover the joy of writing.

Standards-Based Writing for ELLs

By: Colorín Colorado (2007)

Writing is a social process, and each culture has its own conventions about sharing narratives. Help ELLs become successful writers by fostering self-expression and explicitly teaching English writing conventions.

Encourage Your Child to Write

By: Colorín Colorado (2007)

Writing is a great way for your child to become a better reader. Here are some fun ways to get your child writing at home. Even very young children can write stories!

Student Essay: Fulfilling a Family's Dream

By: Dorina A. (2003)

This essay was written by a former ELL student during her participation in programs offered by College Summit, an organization dedicated to strengthening a college-going culture for all students, and for supporting low-income students' college application process. The author describes her experiences as a young girl having to care for her younger brother each day while her mother worked in the afternoon, and remembers an incident that nearly broke apart her family. "I felt I was an adult before I was a kid," she writes.

Writing and Spelling Ideas to Use with Kids

By: Texas Education Agency (1996)

As children learn some letter-sound matches and start to read, they also begin to experiment with writing. These activities can be used with children to develop their writing and spelling abilities.