Scaffolded Writing

Scaffolded Writing: A Bridge, Not a Barrier

Structured Language Supports Emergent Bilingual Writers Every time students are asked to write, we assume they know how to begin. But for many learners, especially Emergent Bilinguals, that assumption becomes the very reason they don’t complete the assignment at all. When students shut down instead of putting forth the effort necessary to complete a writing task, their frustration becomes evident. While many teachers focus on their motivation and accountability, a crucial instructional question is often overlooked: Do students have the language tools they need to sta

Digital Multimodal Composition, Infographics

Why Students Should Analyze Infographics Before Creating Them

The Problem: Jumping Straight to Creation Imagine asking students to write a persuasive essay without ever reading one or trying to solve quadratic equations without seeing examples first. It sounds ridiculous, right? Yet many of us do this with infographics all the time without considering that another step may be necessary. The solution is simple: start with analysis, not creation. In my recent post titled, How I Design Infographics for Multimodal Learning Projects in Canva, I shared how infographics support student learning by functioning as instructional tools and a

Small Group Instruction

How Often Should I Use Small Groups?

Small group instruction is a great way to address the academic needs of students, particularly those who have deficiencies that hinder them from making progress. However, knowing how often to use them as an intervention is key. The idea of using small groups seems like a very simple concept, but results actually depend on the amount of planning that occurs prior to actually facilitating small groups. Being proactive about learning students' strengths and weaknesses early on is helpful when trying to determine how frequently they should be used as an intervention. Having a

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