Fostering the Reading and Writing Connection in Middle School Language Arts
How can you encourage students to read, write and like it? How can you tap into the literature that they like and the writing that they do to encourage student engagement? If you have ever asked either of these questions, then this session is for you! Come learn about strategies and tools to use to help students see the connection and enjoyment in reading and writing.
Rebecca McKnight
The Academy at Lincoln - Greensboro, NC
2. When we are done, we will …..
Answer our essential
questions
Generate a list of
adolescent literature for
our students to read
Participate in some
activities to help foster
the reading/writing
connection
3. Agenda
Introduction
Goals for the session
Define Reading and Writing
Activities to foster connections
Questions, comments, concerns
4. Info about me…
I love to read!
I have a master’s degree in Education from
UNCG and a bachelor’s degree from the
College of William and Mary
This will be my 15th year in Guilford County. I
have taught at several middle schools
including the Academy at Lincoln.
I have worked as a school-based Curriculum
Facilitator and as a Curriculum Specialist for
the school system.
I am teaching, now, because I love to work with
students.
5. Session Objectives
(Essential Questions)
• How can we get students to see
the connections between what
they read and what they write?
• How important is student choice
in the reading/writing process?
• What tools can be used to
encourage students to read and
write?
7. What is the value of fostering the
connection between Reading and Writing in
middle school?
• Improved retention of • Stimulate creativity
information • Increase student
• Deepen Understanding responsibility for learning
• Application of current • Meet developmental needs
research • Resolve management issues
• Build community • Renew enthusiasm for
teaching
• Create equity
9. Where do the
prompts that my How do I accept
students write about student writing?
come from?
Questions
to think
about ……
How do I model how
What are my favorite
I want students to
texts to use? Why do
read and write for
I love them?
me?
10. • Blogs
• Texts
• Formal vs. Informal Writing
• Facebook and Social Media
• Web 2.0 tools like:
– Storify --Animoto
– Glogster --Dvolver
• E-mail
• Movie Maker
• Journals/Daybooks
11. Reading Strategies Brainstorm
Placemat: Reading Strategies
Brainstorm
What types of strategies and
materials do you use to
teach reading to students in
your classroom?
12. Literacy Skills
• Setting a purpose for reading
• Finding the main idea and supporting
details
• Summarizing/paraphrasing
• Developing vocabulary
• Activating prior knowledge
• Recognizing the author’s point of
view
• Making predictions
13. Literacy Skills continued….
• Recognizing text structures
• Using text features to connect with
and guide through the reading
• Making inferences
• Questioning what you read
• Visualizing what you read
• Making connections
18. Literature Circles/Book Clubs
• What are they?
• How do you organize them?
• What is their value in use of informational text?
• Resources for organizing your own
• Book Club resources
– http://www.abcteach.com/directory/basics/reading/lit
erature_circles/: Samples of role sheets and forms
– http://www.litcircles.org/: Some additional
information and forms
– http://www.npatterson.net/reading.html: Role sheets
19. It is the supreme
art of the teacher
to awaken joy in
creative expression
and knowledge.”
Albert Einstein
20. • Battle of the Books list
• Journals and
magazines
• Young Adult Literature
• Poetry books
• Picture books
• Professional resources
• Short Stories
• Basal readers
• Internet
• Picture Books
21. Scranimal Activity
Use mentor
text to teach
poetry
elements
Write your Develop
own vocabulary
Make
Imagery
connections
25. Real World Writing Purposes:
Adapted from Write Like This by Kelly Gallagher
Purpose Possible Reading Possible Writing
selections Topics
Topic Express and Reflect
Inform and Explain
Evaluate and Judge
Inquire and Explore
Analyze and Interpret
Take a Stand/Propose
a solution
26. • Conversations
• Student Surveys
• Blog writing
• What are they
bringing to class
to read?
• Formal & Informal
Reading and
Writing
workshops
27. 3-D Graphic Organizers
Can be used to ………
Brainstorm ideas for writing
Plan and organize ideas for writing
Organize vocabulary
Share student analysis of text
Share student reflections
Make comparisons
Visually display critical thinking
28. How can 3-D graphic organizers help to
engage writers and readers in my
writing instruction?
• Hands-on way to manipulate and
organize information
• Allows and encourages creativity
• Help spatial learners make
connections
• Small enough to fit into daybooks or
writing/reading journals
• They are fun!
34. Resources for strategies and ideas
• Teaching Blogs
– The Organized Classroom
– Secondary Solutions
– Laura Candler
– Teaching Blog Addict
• Websites
• Colleagues
• Professional Resources