Emergent Bilinguals’ Use of Word Prediction Software Amid Digital Composing

Composing is an essential part of literacy development in early childhood classrooms, and writing experiences are continually changing through advances in technology. Writing in a new language can be particularly challenging for emergent bilinguals as they navigate learning how to spell in English as part of the writing process. New pedagogical tools must be used to support these students as meaning makers and composers. In this study, we investigated how a group of first-grade emergent bilinguals used word prediction software as they created digital compositions over the course of a year. The results suggest several positive ways, such as basic spelling support, extended written responses, and additional opportunities to practice reading, that this digital tool enhanced the meaning-making process of emergent bilingual writers. Recommendations for educators to implement word prediction software in classrooms are included.