Writing in a Second Language from Kindergarten to College: Challenges and Strategies on the Road to Bi-literacy

Our presentation will explore the challenges encountered by Emergent Bilingual learners in second language writing. We will consider the specific requirements of writing in particular genres in light of variables such as the age of the learners, the kinds of writing they need to produce, academic and social expectations for particular students, the role of literacy in the first language and the writers’ educational backgrounds. Our data come from student and teacher perspectives ranging from elementary school to college.  We will consider strategies to facilitate learners' bi-literacy and invite all participants to share their own experiences and perspectives.