Building Better Writers

When & Where:

October 26, 2023

8:30 am – 3:30 pm CST

Doubletree by Hilton Dallas Market Center

2015 Market Center Blvd.

Dallas, Texas 75207

Presented by: Natalia Heckman

What it is:

Building Better Writers offers ELA/ELAR teachers an insight into the unique needs of emergent bilingual writers and provides practical strategies to address these needs. 

Natalia Heckman presents a resource built on the combination of her classroom experience and research in ESL and ELA fields. The resource has four distinct parts: instruction at the sentence level, instruction at the paragraph level, instruction at the composition level, and finally a collection of 60 activities! 

Created with emergent bilinguals in mind, the resource and workshop aim to offer an asset-based perspective on writing instruction for newcomers in a self-contained ESL/ELD classroom and long-term ELs enrolled in mainstream ELA courses. Many parts of this resource, especially the chapter on composition, address specific skills that students will need to shine on the mandatory state end-of-course examinations. 

During the workshop, participants will have an opportunity to sample activities from all parts of the book and participate in simulated mini-lessons focused on: 

• Accessible activities for all students 
• Scaffolded academic writing
• Cross-linguistic connections
• Grammar Instruction

Who Should Attend

• Grade 3-12 ELAR Teachers 
• ESL/ELD Teachers
• ESL/ELAR Instructional Coaches/Specialists
• School Administrators