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Reciprocity: Teaching writing to become a better reader…

…and vice-versa Amanda Blanco

TBAWP 2011

Pasco Writes Well

Are you a WRITER or a READER?

Write a short piece identifying yourself as either a WRITER or a READER. Which did you connect with first? Why are you more attracted to

that facet of language? Why are you more hesitant

toward, or doubtful of your skills perhaps, in the other?

“My advice is so basic. Number one: Read…I’m not convinced someone wants to be a writer if they don’t read…Reading is the nourishment that lets you do interesting work. To be reading good things. I feel that you should be reading what you want to write. Nothing less.”

Jennifer Egan Winner of the 2011 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction

Why Writers Should Read

“Expressive writing enabled the students to see relationships, connections, and ideas that were once elusive and abstract. By writing, students were able to organize their thinking on paper and were in a better position to understand another writer's organization of an idea. This is what reading comprehension is all about. To enhance the transfer of learning between reading and writing classes, students should see the connection between what an author is saying and what the writer wants to say.”

Carmen Collins

The Use of Writing to Improve

Reading Comprehension

Why Readers Should Write

The Melding of Two Universes

Why Teach Both Together

“Reading and writing require knowledge of many of the same features of written language, such as letter sound relations, print format, vocabulary, and syntax; and, they depend upon many of the same cognitive processes, including purpose-setting, self-awareness of success, use of different sources of information, and so on. Instruction should emphasize, and take advantage of, the knowledge and process sharing that can take place across reading and writing.”

Timothy ShanahanReading and Writing Together:

New Perspectives for the Classroom

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Goals(Aim, objective, whatever you prefer)

• To improve efficiency of writing and reading lessons

• To save instructional time

• To create for students a deeper awareness of the processes of written language through “double practice”

Activities that Promote Reading

and Writing From Kylene Beers:• Before: Probable Passage• During: Double Entry Journals• After: Text Reformation

From Shanahan:• Group Conferences• Revising From Another

Perspective • Reading and Writing as Role

Playing

Before Reading Strategy:

Probable PassageExample

Beast at bay

Chateau

Jungle

Hunt

General

Cannibals

Pistol

Ship Trap

Before Reading Strategy:

Probable PassageYou try with your group

Carnival

Retribution

Connoisseur

Catacombs

Wine

Palazzo

Injury

Nobleman

During Reading Strategy:

Different Perspectives

Read the passage from Night.

Rewrite this story from the perspective of someone else in the area, perhaps from a guard, another prisoner, or maybe even that lone prisoner himself.

After Reading Strategies with Writing

Focus:

Text Reformation• Facebook/Text

Talk• ShrinkLit• Children’s Book

Extending the Story

• Write a Prequel/Sequel

• New Ending

Writer’s/Reader’s Workshops

1. Students bring piece of writing to share (personal or professional).

2. Students read their pieces aloud.

3. After each student reads the teacher/group leader asks three questions:

1. What was the piece about? (Main Idea)

2. What did you like about the piece?

3. Do you have any comments, questions, or suggestions for the author?

BRAINSTORM

What Before Reading, During Reading, or After Reading activities that involve writing have you used in your classroom?

Share at your table and fill in the box on your worksheet.

If there's a book you really want to read, but it hasn't been written yet, then you must write it.  ~Toni Morrison

Reading is the creative center of a writer's life. --Stephen King

You wouldn’t be a writer if reading hadn’t enriched your soul more than other pursuits. ~Anne Lamott

Some Final Thoughts

ReferencesBeers, G. Kylene. When Kids Can't Read, What Teachers Can Do: a

Guide for Teachers, 6-12. Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann, 2003. Print.

Collins, Carmen. "The Use of Writing to Improve Reading Comprehension." Annual Meeting. National Council for the Teachers of English. Boston, MA. 20 Nov 1981. Speech.

Dilworth, Dianna. "Jennifer Egan Gives Writing Advice: Read-GalleyCat." Mediabistro.com. WebMediaBrands, Inc., 29 Apr. 2011. Web. 14 June 2011.

Durukan, Erhan. "Effects of Cooperative Integrated Reading and Composition (CIRC) Technique on Reading-Writing Skills.” Educational Research and Reviews 6 (2011): 102-09. Print.

Shanahan, Timothy. Reading and Writing Together: New Perspectives for the Classroom. Norwood, MA: Christopher-Gordon, 1990. Print.