Blog post: Strategies for Connecting Writing and Reading (2024)

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As promised in my last post I’ve provided here a few practical strategies for connecting your writing and reading programs:

  1. Use the same terminology for writing and reading.When writing fiction, students should use the words of literary analysis: character, setting, plot, theme, and so forth. So, too, when reading nonfiction, students should use the traits of writing: ideas, organization, voice, word choice, sentence fluency, and conventions. By using a common vocabulary throughout the language arts curriculum, you not only avoid confusion but also help students see themselves as writer-readers and reader-writers.
  2. Use the same graphic organizers for writing and reading.The graphic organizers that help students gather details during prewriting can also help them analyze details after reading. For example, if students use a Venn diagram to prepare to write a comparison-contrast essay, have them also use a Venn diagram to analyze a comparison-contrast essay. Graphic organizers, after all, are mind maps—ways of making thinking concrete. Using the same strategy to synthesize ideas as to analyze ideas helps students understand that reading and writing are opposite vectors of the same process.
  3. Write the forms you are reading, and read the forms you are writing.Plan your reading and writing time to complement each other. If you are reading short stories, write short stories. If you are writing expository essays, read expository essays. Each activity deepens the other. A student who has read “Tyger! Tyger!” by William Blake may love it, but the student who has written “Wombat! Wombat!” in satirical response understands the poem from the inside out—and will never forget it.
  4. Use literature to demonstrate writing techniques.Use literature to show the traits, concepts, skills, and techniques students are using when they write. For example, when you want students to learn how to create narrative tension, introduce excerpts from short stories that use this technique. Then lead a discussion of how the authors do what they do. When teaching about answering objections, select editorials that do just that and discuss how the answers strengthen the writers’ positions.
  5. Use writing to explore literary techniques.When students not only learn about literary techniques but have to use them in writing, they internalize the concepts. So, if you want students to understand a literary technique such as foreshadowing, have them write a paragraph that uses foreshadowing. When you want students to learn about symbolism in a piece of literature, have them create their own symbols and use them in a short piece of writing.
  6. Be the bridge.In the end, though, the best integration of reading and writing in your classroom comes from you and your students. Programs can only go so far. They are repositories of models and assignments, but you and your students are the reader-writers and the writer-readers who bring the language-arts community to life. If the books get in your way, shove them into a corner and sit down with your students and just write and read, read and write. Words are your friends.

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    Blog post: Strategies for Connecting Writing and Reading (2024)

    FAQs

    What strategy demonstrates the connection between reading and writing? ›

    One way to connect reading and writing in your classroom is through an instructional strategy called Read STOP Write. (STOP stands for Summarize, Text structure, Organize, Plan.) This method helps students identify common text structures when reading and apply the structures to their writing.

    How do you make connections between reading and writing? ›

    Strategies for Connecting Writing and Reading
    1. Use the same terminology for writing and reading. ...
    2. Use the same graphic organizers for writing and reading. ...
    3. Write the forms you are reading, and read the forms you are writing. ...
    4. Use literature to demonstrate writing techniques. ...
    5. Use writing to explore literary techniques.

    What strategies can be used to read and write effectively? ›

    In order to support students' development of strong reading skills, there are several strategies that teachers can use to engage students and promote deeper comprehension.
    • #1: Think aloud. ...
    • #2: Set a purpose for reading. ...
    • #3: Write to learn. ...
    • #4: Use visuals. ...
    • #1: Teaching pre-writing. ...
    • #2: Sentence combining.
    Apr 12, 2018

    How do you integrate reading and writing? ›

    Integrating Reading and Writing
    1. Limit the amount of reading assigned so that students have time to devote themselves to their writing.
    2. Devote class discussion or perhaps a writing assignment to an analysis of how an argument is constructed, rather than focusing exclusively on the content.

    What is connecting in reading strategies? ›

    Making connections is a reading comprehension strategy that involves linking what is being read (the text) to what is already known (schema, or background knowledge). The strategy promotes engagement while reading and, in turn, a deep understanding of the text.

    What are two reading strategies that are commonly used in helping you process to read? ›

    There are many ways to read selectively to get an idea for a text. Two of these techniques are called skimming and scanning, both of which can be an important first step in approaching a dense or difficult text. Skimming or scanning first can help you retain more information as you read more closely later.

    What is the strongest link between reading and writing? ›

    Research has found that when children read extensively they become better writers. Reading a variety of genres helps children learn text structures and language that they can then transfer to their own writing. In addition, reading provides young people with prior knowledge that they can use in their stories.

    What are the 5 components of reading and how they connect to writing? ›

    Reading skills are built on five separate components: phonics, phonemic awareness, vocabulary, fluency, and comprehension. These components work together to create strong, rich, and reliable reading abilities, but they're often taught separately or in uneven distribution.

    What is the connection between shared reading and writing activities? ›

    Students become better readers, writers and thinkers when they learn reading and writing together (Carson, 1993, Spack, 1998). Writing activities motivate students to read and re-read in that they provide a purpose for reading and require students to become actively engaged with a text.

    What are the 7 strategies of writing? ›

    In this article, I'll explore seven key strategies to help you become a more proficient and impactful writer.
    • Read Widely and Often: ...
    • Write Regularly: ...
    • Seek Feedback: ...
    • Expand Your Vocabulary: ...
    • Edit and Revise: ...
    • Study Grammar and Style: ...
    • Stay Inspired and Curious:
    Nov 17, 2023

    What are the 5 writing strategies? ›

    While many writers have traditionally created outlines before beginning writing, there are several other effective prewriting activities. We often call these prewriting strategies “brainstorming techniques.” Five useful strategies are listing, clustering, freewriting, looping, and asking the six journalists' questions.

    What are 5 active reading strategies? ›

    Answer
    • Reading with a specific focus. Keep in mind what information you are looking for as you read. ...
    • Breaking the text up into portions. Do not feel you have to read the whole text in one sitting. ...
    • Questioning the text as you read. Did the author get everything right? ...
    • Taking notes as you read.
    May 14, 2021

    What does it mean to integrate reading and writing? ›

    Integrating reading and writing can be an effective way for students to improve their comprehension and vocabulary, as well as enhance their writing skills. By reading different genres, styles, and perspectives, students can imitate, adapt, and expand on the features and techniques of the texts they read.

    Why is reading and writing integration important? ›

    Students come to school with opportunity gaps and varying degrees of background knowledge. A curriculum that focuses on integrated reading and writing instruction, therefore, better builds knowledge and skills.

    How do you integrate writing in another way? ›

    You can use writing prompts to connect writing to other subject areas, such as science, math, history, or art. For example, you can ask students to write a diary entry from the perspective of a historical figure, a poem about a scientific concept, or a story based on a math problem.

    What is a reading and writing learning style? ›

    Read/write learners learn primarily by reading and writing. They prefer to learn information by reading notes, handouts and textbooks. These learners make use of dictionaries and other reference materials. They also benefit by rewriting notes and rereading notes silently again and again. Read/write learners.

    What is a literacy strategy? ›

    Literacy strategies are techniques that teachers use to help students improve their reading skills. They target different skill sets and areas of knowledge that involve reading, such as vocabulary, spelling ability, comprehension, critical analysis and language articulation.

    Why are reading and writing strategies important? ›

    Strategy instruction helps students engage and make sense of what they are learning through an active process of learning. At the heart of strategy instruction is getting students to talk and write about what they are learning and thinking. Strategies span all areas of literacy.

    How does a book review help learners link reading and writing? ›

    Writing book reviews can help your child engage more deeply with what they're reading, find their next favourite series or author and develop their writing skills.

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