Presentation Title:
Mirror Mirror In the Text, Using Learner Centered Writing to Increase Engagement for ELs

Presentation Options: Onsite

Presentation Strand: ESL Secondary

Presentation Delivery Language: English

Description:

The adolescent EL population continues to grow along with the need for engaging materials that build literacy skills and serve as a reflection of our students. Join us to learn about implementing learner centered reading and writing units to increase student and teacher participation that is supported by relevant research.

Abstract:

Research has shown challenges among adolescent ELs that impacts their English literacy proficiency. With these challenges, there is a shortage of high interest and low level texts using mirrors to reflect true stories of our EL community. As ELD program administrators, we struggled to find impactful reading and writing strategies with high levels of engagement. We developed a learner centered writing unit including interactive activities and visually appealing slideshows, but more importantly gives opportunity for students to submit personal narratives for publication. The use of these published mentor texts led to higher interest and participation among teachers and students.

Using the “Mirror Mirror'' concept has increased participation in long term and newcomer ELD classes by 92.04% with a teacher participation increase of 75% in 4 school years. According to Rudine Bishop, “Reading, then, becomes a means of self-affirmation and readers often seek their mirrors in books.” (R. S. Bishop, 1990) This idea of students seeking out mirrors has moved them toward greater motivation as seen in the ELD classrooms across our district. With new motivation for reading authentic mentor texts, students are finding meaning and purpose in the writing of their own personal narratives.

In this project, students are discovering real-world purposes to establish a wider and diverse view of their own community and avoid the danger of single story representation. Throughout this session, participants will learn successes and roadblocks in implementing learner centered reading and writing units.

Presentation Types: Academic-50m

Target Audience: PreK - 12

Primary Presenter's Telephone: 4055174744

Confirm your Participation: Yes I will present

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Jamie Hinds