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NWREL Products Catalog OnlineFlashback Pictures from past events Credits Credits The newsletter of the Executive Director/CEO: Dr. Ethel Simon-McWilliams 101 SW Main Street, Suite 500 NWREL's Web Site address is www.nwrel.org This publication had been funded at least in part with federal funds from the U.S. Department of Education under contract number ED-01-CO-0013. The content of this publication does not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the U.S. Department of Education nor does mention of trade names, commercial products, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. government. |
March/April 2001 | NW REPORT Spanish Writing After English, Spanish is the most widely spoken language in this country, including in the Northwest. Educators are increasingly creating bilingual programs and opportunities for students to learn academic content in their native language, an approach that reinforces academic learning as well as English-language acquisition.
 Research shows that learning to write well in their native language often helps students learn to write well in English. However, resources are scarce for supporting students' skill development in their primary language. Creating Writers: SpanishTM, the latest resource in the Laboratory's family of language arts assessment products, is a new writing program designed to help teachers who are bilingual in Spanish and English to teach and assess writing in Spanish."Becoming bilingual leads to many advantages and resources, and bilingual education should be viewed positively," writes the author, Melissa Ritter. "Research shows that the best way for students to learn English is to build on their strengths in their primary language." Creating Writers: SpanishTM is based on the Laboratory's highly successful 6+1 TraitsTM, a series of tools for teaching and assessing reading, writing, and oral communication. Because Spanish language patterns are different from those of English, the Laboratory did not simply translate the English versions into Spanish, but developed a new model that is informed by research and literature on dual language learning, as well as the contributions of experts, practitioners, and students from schools and districts around the region. These individuals helped identify the essential traits of effective Spanish writing: tema, organización, tono y estilo, uso de lenguaje, fluidez, gramática y ortografia, y presentación. These Spanish writing traits correspond to the English writing traits of organization, voice, word choice, sentence fluency, conventions, and presentation. The traits enable teachers to focus their instructional strategies on the specific needs of individual students. They also help teachers to maintain a comprehensive review of students' writing skill development. Using the traits as a common language to describe effective writing, in both Spanish and English, students and teachers can discuss the similarities and differences between the two languages, their learning goals, and students' progress. Creating Writers: SpanishTM introduces readers to the essential traits of writing, describes the advantages of bilingual instruction, discusses the most effective assessment methods for Spanish writers, and provides examples of student writing. Also available is a rubber stamp of the seven traits that teachers can use to score student work and provide students with feedback on their writing samples. Workshops are also available to help teachers learn how to use the traits in the classroom for purposes of instruction and assessment. Visit the Web site for Creating Writers: SpanishTM at www.nwrel.org/assessment/department.asp?d=3.
 A companion publication, Spanish Picture Books: An Annotated Bibliography With Activities for Teaching Writing, lists some of the best Spanish-language picture books for illustrating the craft of writing. The recommended books are organized according to the seven traits of writing, helping teachers to link literature with the teaching of the seven traits of Spanish writing. The book also suggests lesson plans and ideas for making use of the recommended books."Reading and writing have always been irrevocably intertwined," writes Ritter. "Not only does teaching the two together come naturally, but it provides better learning opportunities for students." And picture books can be an excellent source of inspiration for lessons. Color posters for both the Spanish and English versions of the trait-based assessment models, Creating Writers: SpanishTM and 6+1 TraitsTM of Writing, are also available. To order these materials, see the NWREL Products Catalog Online.
 
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