Promoting the Development of Literacy Skills Among Bilingual Students Through Explicit Spanish Vocabulary Instruction

• In Event: Roundtable Session 40
  In Roundtable Session: What's the Word? Spelling and Vocabulary Development for Emerging Bilingual Children

Abstract

High levels of bilingualism have been associated with academic success. In particular, vocabulary skills in Spanish and English have been found to relate strongly to English literacy outcomes for bilingual students in the U.S. (August & Shanahan, 2006). Yet, native language loss is well documented in the literature (Proctor, August, Carlo, & Barr, 2010). A study was conducted with fourth grade teachers and students in a bilingual program to obtain preliminary data on the effects of explicit Spanish vocabulary instruction on Spanish reading development. Findings point to the importance of word selection to ensure the inclusion of academic words.

Author

• Igone Arteagoitia