Tag Archives: ESL writing

Elementary School Writing for MLLs: Interview With Joanna Wong

Betsy Gilliland
Betsy Gilliland

Joanna Wong, Associate Professor, College of Education, California State University, Monterey Bay, is an elementary school teacher educator who holds a PhD in education focused on language, literacy, and culture. Drawing on her previous work as a bilingual teacher in … Continue reading

Posted in TESOL Blog | Tagged as , , , , | Leave a comment

4 Low-Prep Creative Writing Ideas

Hetal Ascher
Hetal Ascher

In need of a quick, low-prep lesson? Here are some creative writing activities that my students and I have enjoyed over the last year. These ideas work whether you are teaching in person, online, or hybrid, and they all allow … Continue reading

Posted in TESOL Blog | Tagged as , , , , , | 1 Comment

5 Guidelines for Planning Writing Lessons

Betsy Gilliland
Betsy Gilliland

Though most teachers probably had to write formal lesson plans during their academic studies and practicum experiences, many of us stopped doing so as we became more expert in our work. In one sense, it’s logical that experienced teachers would … Continue reading

Posted in TESOL Blog | Tagged as , , , , , | 1 Comment

Betsy Gilliland
Betsy Gilliland

Happy New Year! As we hang up new calendars and prepare for another academic term, it’s also a good time to think ahead for ourselves and our students. New Year’s resolutions are a January tradition for many people. We make … Continue reading

Posted in TESOL Blog | Tagged as , , , , , , | 2 Comments

December Holidays: 5 Writing Activities

Betsy Gilliland
Betsy Gilliland

Kwanzaa, Hanukkah, Solstice, Christmas, Ōmisoka, New Year’s Eve…with abundant holidays and traditions involving food, gifts, and socialization, December offers teachers many opportunities to engage students in fun and reflective writing activities. As I wrote last month in my November post, … Continue reading

Posted in TESOL Blog | Tagged as , , , , , , | 3 Comments

6 Ways to Build Fluency in Second Language Writing

Betsy Gilliland
Betsy Gilliland

What Is Fluency in Writing? When asked what their goal is in learning a language, many learners say they want to be fluent in both speaking and writing. In everyday discussions, we often think of fluency as a reflection of … Continue reading

Posted in TESOL Blog | Tagged as , , , , , | 3 Comments

Music and Writing

Betsy Gilliland
Betsy Gilliland

Music can evoke powerful emotions and memories in human beings. We love a particular piece, or we hate it strongly, or it brings us back to a place and time. Music can also put us into a mindset for writing … Continue reading

Posted in TESOL Blog | Tagged as , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Teaching Workplace Writing

Betsy Gilliland
Betsy Gilliland

Much of our discussions of writing instruction revolves around academic writing and preparing students for their future studies, from high school to university to graduate school. But few of our students plan to become professors, so it’s important for writing … Continue reading

Posted in TESOL Blog | Tagged as , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment