Personal narrative assignments provide multilingual learners with unique opportunities to explore their heritage. The social isolation young second-language scholars have endured during virtual learning has left many in dire need of lessons that affirm their identity while advancing their academic communication skills. Well-intentioned educators often underestimate the complexities of crafting an effective personal narrative for English learners and reticent readers.
In this recorded edWebinar, Dr. Kate Kinsella shares classroom-tested instructional routines and resources to implement a successful personal narrative writing unit that honors diversity and builds a more cohesive community of learners. Proven practices include well-designed discussion and writing prompts, scaffolded interaction guides, appropriate writing models, and targeted vocabulary and grammar lessons.
This recorded edWebinar will be of interest to teachers, school and district leaders, and EL coordinators of the elementary through high school levels.
About the Presenter
Dr. Kate Kinsella is an emeritus teacher educator from San Francisco State University’s Center for Teacher Efficacy where she addressed English as a second language research and instruction. As an SFSU teacher educator, Dr. Kinsella taught for a decade in the university’s Step to College program for first-generation high school bilingual students. Her experiences and curriculum creation to support English learners for a successful first year in college greatly informed her development of English 3D. She is currently the CEO of Dr. Kate Kinsella & Associates, an educational research, professional development, and consultancy firm dedicated to multilingual learner achievement. Her 30-year teaching career focus has been equipping students from diverse economic and linguistic backgrounds with the advanced language and literacy skills to be truly high school and college ready.
Dr. Kinsella is the author of many professional publications and research-validated programs to support multilingual learners and striving readers, including READ 180 Universal, English 3D, Language Launch, and Academic Vocabulary Toolkit. She has served as the lead scholar and pedagogy guide on three recent U.S. Department of Education-funded research initiatives to improve educational outcomes for K-12 English language learners. In fall 2021, she will launch the first professional book in a series published by Corwin entitled Scholarly Interactions: Tools and Techniques to Engage Academic English Learners.