For almost as long as IEW has been in existence, the company has helped the English Language Learner (ELL) toward mastery of the English language. In podcast Episode 296, Andrew and Julie discuss how Andrew first connected with ELL teachers all the way back in the late 1990s when he visited the Pasco County School District. The administration had asked him to come and help its teachers gain understanding about how to teach writing. Being in a primarily agrarian county, the district taught many transitory students whose first language was not English. Andrew’s time spent working with the teachers and students of the district proved to him that Structure and Style works for English language learners.
During the podcast Andrew and Julie describe why the writing method is so effective. This is borne out through qualitative assessments versus the high stakes quantitative assessments that provide immediate scores but ignore the human element of language instruction. As teachers instruct with their students using Structure and Style, they help the kids learn the conventions of the English language by working through the process:
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Read aloud and then discuss the source text together.
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Create a key word outline.
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Test the outline verbally.
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Have the students write the paragraphs using an EZ+1 approach, helping the students as much as they need.
Do you teach English language learners? Be sure you listen to the podcast to learn why and how Structure and Style is such an effective approach to helping students grow their English skills.
