Strategic and Interactive Writing Instruction (SIWI)
Strategic and Interactive Writing Instruction (SIWI) is an evidence-based framework for writing instruction designed for Deaf and Hard of Hearing students. It is comprised of three main principles: (1) strategic instruction rooted in cognitive theories of composing, (2) interactive instruction based on sociocultural theories of teaching and learning, and (3) metalinguistic knowledge and linguistic competence drawn from language acquisition theory.
Target Group
DHH students, elementary through high school
Content Area
Writing
Language Approach
SIWI builds students’ metalinguistic knowledge of written and signed/spoken languages. Students engage in comparing ASL and English linguistic features and composing meaningfully equivalent phrases across languages.
SIWI leads to greater ASL and English linguistic competence by using the languages in authentic and interactive communicative contexts.
Skills
Written or signed composition
- process strategies
- genre knowledge & structure
- language & conventions
- audience & purpose
- Assessments
- Baseline
- Placement
- Formative
- Cumulative
Grade Level or Developmental Stages
3rd grade through high school
Company’s Statement on Diversity
SIWI includes (1) responsive and interactive approaches to support learners at various levels of writing development, (2) visual scaffolding of writing process, skills, and strategies for visual access to learning, and (3) validation and expansion of students’ diverse, multilingual/multimodal communicative resources through application of translanguaging pedagogies.
- Designed for Deaf and Hard of Hearing
- If not, adaptable?
- Comprehension in American Sign Language
- Comprehension in English
- Composition in American Sign Language
- Compositon in English
- Opportunity for academic language
- Opportunity for social language
- Opportunity for spoken language development
- Opportunity for family engagement
- Evidence-based or evidence-informed
- Training required
- Training Available
- Physical Materials
- Digital Materials
This information has been reviewed by the Clerc Center team, and efforts were made to confirm its accuracy with the program developers. However, it is provided “as is” without any guarantees of accuracy or completeness. Please verify the details yourself before relying on it.
The SIWI theoretical framework and instructional approach were initially conceptualized by Dr. Kimberly Wolbers in 2006 during her dissertation research at Michigan State University. Since 2007, she has been a faculty member at the University of Tennessee, where she has established numerous collaborations with scholars at several U.S. and international institutions. Many individuals have significantly contributed to the research and development of SIWI, and these collaborations continue to grow.
For a list of contributing project staff and authors of SIWI publications, see SIWI grant projects and research.