Writing Instruction and Assessment for English Language Learners K-8

 Susan Lenski, EdD, is Professor at Portland State University in Portland, Oregon, where she teaches graduate reading and language arts courses. Before joining the faculty at Portland State, she taught in public schools for 20 years and at Illinois State University for 11 years. Her teaching experiences include working with children from kindergarten through high school. Dr. Lenski has been recognized by several organizations for her commitment to education. She is a recipient of the Nila Banton Smith Award from the International Reading Association; was instrumental in her school receiving an Exemplary Reading Program Award from the International Reading Association; and was inducted into the Illinois Reading Hall of Fame. She also served as a member of the International Reading Association Board of Directors. Dr. Lenski has conducted numerous presentations and has published over 60 articles and 15 books. Her research interests focus on strategic reading, English language learners, and adolescent literacy.  Frances Verbruggen, MA, is a student in the Doctor of Education program at Portland State University. She earned a BA in Spanish from the University of Maryland and an MA in teaching French from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She became fluent in Dutch while living for 7 years in Belgium. Ms. Verbruggen has worked as an elementary-level classroom teacher and a reading specialist in the Portland area since 2003. Her areas of research interest include struggling readers and writers and English language learners.Â

• 1. English Language Learners and Writing Research2. From Theory to Practice: Writing with English Language Learners3. Facilitating Writing Fluency4. Teaching Narrative Writing5. Academic Writing Genres: Description, Exposition, and Persuasion6. How Language Works: Grammar and Usage7. Assessing Writing

A 'must read' for all teachers of ELLs in mainstream and ESL classrooms. Employing realistic classroom examples, the authors bring to life the theory and methods of ELL writing instruction. The book presents step-by-step ways to implement innovative methods and activities, emphasizing the importance of carefully planning instruction and creating a culture of collaboration in a school. I found the cross-cultural information about writing very important for understanding the interaction of native language and writing development in English. I would use this text in my ESL methods class to complement a more general textbook. I could definitely see my students creating lesson plans using the principles that Lenski and Verbruggen outline.--Carla Paciotto, EdD, Department of Educational and Interdisciplinary Studies, Western Illinois University Lenski and Verbruggen have tackled the subject of writing for English language learners in a way that few others have. Starting with engaging classroom vignettes that readers can relate to, the authors continue with a toolbox of practical and effective strategies that can be used immediately by teachers who are working to enhance their writing instruction. Teachers in all subject areas will find these strategies useful.--Penny Plavala, MEd, school improvement specialist, Multnomah Education Service District, Portland, Oregon The demand for this book has been loud and clear from teachers, teacher educators, researchers, school administrators, and educational policy developers. Lenski and Verbruggen focus on real-world contexts in their discussion of how to teach English language learners to write well. The instructional strategies, student activities, and assessment tools are grounded in current theory, research, and best practices. This book exemplifies clear writing and clear thinking.--Paul Boyd-Batstone, PhD, Department of Teacher Education, California State University, Long Beach -