Write in Response to Text
Did the teacher assign students to write in response to texts students are reading in class?
Why does this matter?
The concept of "Writing to Learn" is critical to improve both student reading and writing . The important points are:
short, frequent bursts of writing promote learning and involvement in all content areas
writing to learn tasks allow students to make their thinking visible and help them make sense of content
these activities can be used before, during and after any learning experience
When teachers facilitate writing related to developmentally-appropriate texts, students widen their range of content knowledge, enrich their vocabulary, and adopt and adapt the writing styles of the authors they meet. When we assign writing related to the texts being read, the benefits of independent and shared reading are enhanced. Students deepen the connections they make to texts through writing.
What does this look like in a classroom?
Below are some examples of what this would like like in any class:
General writing prompts
● Teacher-developed, text-aligned writing prompts
● Text-based discussion before and after writing
● Cloze activities
● Reading comprehension questions
● Samples of students’ responses
There are hundreds of writing activities possible in each subject area. The lengthy guides below are an invaluable resource:
What does this look like in a remote learning context?
Many of the assignments above can be utilized in a remote context; some of the websites to the right can give you more specific examples.
What are some key PD resources related to this topic?
Writing to learn: Extending Student Thinking Across the Curriculum
What are special considerations / resources for Multilingual / English Language Learners
The website Colorin Colorado has an excellent page on Teaching Writing to Diverse Student Populations
The article Micro Writing for English Language Learners offers strategies to help ELLs confidence and skills in writing short responses to text.
What are special considerations / resources for students with IEPs?
Click on the website to the right for some very simple and effective tips on writing instruction for students with disabilities.
How is this related to CR-SE? (Culturally Responsive /Sustaining Education)
The CR-SE framework states that all schools should "Have high expectations and deliver rigorous instruction for all students regardless of identity markers, including race, gender, sexual orientation, language, ability, and economic background." This means that we should be encouraging ALL of our students to write more regularly in response to what they read in class!
How is this related to the Supportive Environment Framework / Social-Emotional Learning?
The Supportive Environment Framework states that "School leaders and staff effectively communicate expectations connected to a path to college and career readiness and successfully partner with families to support student progress toward those expectations." For our students to be ready for college and/or career, writing in response to text is essential!