Hola! Hello!

“How can we teach so that our multilingual students learn well? How can we help them read and write well? Can we, or should we, try to start reading and writing instruction right away? Can research help us know what to do (289)?”

I found it interesting that “initial instruction in native language writing tended to affect native language and new language writing more than new language only situations (291).” The first school I student taught at was primarily bilingual learners. In the earlier grades, students had half day instruction in Spanish and the other half of the day was instructed in English. This did not happen in all classrooms but did in most because of the high percentage of English language learners.

Having instruction in two different languages was something I had not seen before and was not exactly sure what to think of it. I first wondered why we would do this when there is so much focus on them learning English. I am glad I learned that it benefits students because they are not simply focusing on learning the language but they are learning how to write as well.

Now that I know about the benefits, I wonder if this type of instruction would be beneficial in the upper elementary grades. The fifth graders that I was with during my student teaching were on a second grade reading level. Many of them had recently come to America and were learning the language. For these students, would it benefit them to have some part of their day instructed in their native language or would it simple serve as a crutch when they need to know English in the grades to come?

I like the ideas of using dialogue journals not only for multilingual learners but for all learners as well. When teachers give written feedback and responses to their students, they are also providing students with a model. Because of this, teachers should be aware of the way they are writing to their students. Teachers should ensure that they are responding to students like they would want their students to respond to them. This is extremely beneficial to English language learners because they need as much exposure to written language as possible. While it is a model, students look as it as a different form of conversation between their teachers. This form of writing serves as a safe space to ask questions and make mistakes as well as share personal concerns with the teacher.

As always, every student learns differently and at their own pace. We need to find the best ways that benefit our class as a whole as well as individually. We also need to know, that at times, we have to go off schedule and step out of the box. Our student’s education is the most important thing, and as their teachers, we ensure that they benefit to their fullest potential.