Five ideas for connecting two important communication skills to promote more thoughtful reading and clearer comprehension and thinking about the topics presented in the classroom.
There has been a great deal of research around the value of integrating reading and writing skills. In the 2010 Writing to Read report by Graham and Hebert they state, “We believe that reading and writing instruction will be even more effective when they are designed to work together to achieve common goals and reinforce the reciprocal acquisition of central literacy knowledge, skills, and strategies. Additionally, there is renewed attention to integrating reading and writing skills because of the Common Core State Standards.” The standards emphasize using writing to demonstrate valid reasoning, clear explanations and well-chosen details in response to readings.
After you have selected a level appropriate and high interest reading for your students, try one or more of these activities. Notice that I have used examples from several different levels of the Ventures Series because it is important to begin making these connections from the very beginning.
Write a personal response to the reading. This could possibly be a journal entry related to the reading. Often there are discussion questions as part of a post reading or writing activity. Consider using these discussion questions as a quick write or journal activity.
Example: Students have read a note about family chores.
Book 1, Unit 9, Lesson D 1A Before you read page 118 – Download PDF
Take notes during or after reading the article. Encourage your students to mark up the text by underlining key ideas, locating vocabulary in context, writing questions, and circling ideas they like.
Example: Students have read a newspaper article about helping blind people run. Now, they do a Build your Vocabulary activity to identify vocabulary meanings by reviewing the context.
Book 4, Unit 5 Around Town, Lesson D 3B page 65 Download PDF
Prepare a summary of key ideas in the article.
Example: Students read an article about Volunteering. Then they learn how to do a summary and prepare to summarize the article they just read.
Transitions, Unit 3, page 31 1D and 2 – Download PDF
Analyze the reading by transferring information to a graphic organizer to highlight key ideas.
Example: Students read a goal statement. Then they transfer appropriate information to a graphic organizer.
Book 2, Unit 2 Lesson E 1B and 1C page 26 – Download PDF
Research evidence to prepare their own text after reading an article.
Example: Students read the causes and effects of smog. Then they must identify and give evidence for an environmental program in their city or community.
I hope you will share your ideas for connecting reading and writing. I am confident, from the research and my own teaching experience, that when you take the time to make these important reading and writing connections, you help your students become more thoughtful readers with the ability to express their ideas more clearly and to provide evidence and support for these ideas.