The Reading-Writing Connection

English-language Arts teachers often talk about the reading-writing connection. The say, "Teaching reading and writing strategies concurrently allows teachers to 'kill two birds with one stone.'” Of course, few would say that reading or writing instruction should always be taught in tandem. There are certainly important lessons and skill development exclusive to each field. I have posted twelve of my Tips to Teach the Reading-Writing Connection. Would you be willing to share which strategies you have found most helpful in this regard? Here's my first tip, to whet your appetite:

1. Teach the Author-Reader Relationship
Both reading and writing involve interactive relationships between author and reader. Reading really is about communication between the reader and the author. Now, it’s true that the author is not speaking directly to the reader; however, readers understand best when they pretend that this is so. Unlike reading, writing requires the thinker to generate both sides of the dialog. The writer must create the content and anticipate the reader response. Teaching students to carry on an internal dialog with their anticipated readers, while they write, is vitally important.

Strategy: Write Aloud

Tags: and, author-reader, connection, knowledge, learn, prior, reading, reading-writing, relationship, rhetorical, More…stance, to, writing

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Permalink Reply by Mark Pennington on January 7, 2011 at 5:04pm

Here's my second tip:

2. Teach Prior Knowledge

What people already know is an essential component of good reading and writing. Content knowledgeis equally important as is skill acquisition to read and write well. Reading specialists estimate that reading comprehension is a 50-50 interaction. In other words, about half of one’s understanding of the text is what the reader puts into the reading by way of experience and knowledge. However, some disclaimers are important to mention here. Although prior knowledge is important, it can also be irrelevant, inaccurate, or incomplete which may well confuse readers or misinform writers. Of course, the teacher has the responsibility to fill gaps with appropriate content.

Strategy: KWHL

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