When people write, they use their thinking abilities to find the right words and put their thoughts into words.
A new study looks at how these thinking skills, like remembering and understanding words, help students who are learning to write in English as a second language.
This is especially important for Hispanic students who are learning English.
How it was tested
The study tested nearly 500 elementary school students who were learning English.
They found that as the students got older, their thinking skills became more connected to their English writing ability.
One important thinking skill for writing was something called "working memory," which helps you remember things quickly.
In the United States, there are about 5 million students who are learning English, and most of them are Hispanic.
However, there hasn't been much research on how these students learn to write.
Writing is important because it shows how well students understand a topic.
The study found that working memory was the most important thing for writing well.
It helps students remember words and ideas while they write.
Why it's important
For students who know two languages, being bilingual seems to give them an extra boost in their memory.
Understanding how students learn to write helps schools improve their writing abilities.
The study shows that students' memory skills are crucial for good writing, and schools can help students by improving their memory skills.
