Response # 4

Integrating Reading and Writing

Why integrate reading and writing?

In our culture the ability to read and write is essential. The ability to read and write is vital for the young child to participate in his/her culture. Reading opens the doors of knowledge and the world of literature for the young child. As decided at the turn of the century by Harvard and other universities, the reading of literature is essential to the process of learning to write. Reading is essential for the young child to come into contact with his/her universe. Writing allows the young child to express his/her thoughts, feelings and to communicate with each other. To the young child writing is a release of an inner impulse that brings satisfaction to the child.

Vacca, (2011) states that: “Classrooms that integrate reading and writing lend encouragement to students who are maturing as readers and writers and provide instructional support so that readers and writers can play with ideas, explore concepts, clarify meaning, and elaborate on what they are learning” (pg.282). My interpretation of this is that the integration of reading and writing is what is referred to as Total Reading. Total Reading is the ability to receive all we can through the graphic symbols. Total Reading is not just reading mechanically but it includes written words.

Vacca (2011), states: “Think of reading and writing as two sides of the same coin. Whereas the writer works to make a text sensible, the reader works to make sense from a text” (pg.282).  Reading inspires students, through introduction to great ideas as well as to improve their ability to think critically and analytically. Reading gives students not only something to talk about beyond their own personal experiences but to write about. Reading offers students illustration of models of truly excellent writing as well as to offer them instruction in voice, syntax, organization and language.

Vacca (2011), states: “Why connect reading and writing in instructional contexts? From a content literacy perspective, writing about ideas and concepts encountered in texts will improve students’ acquisition of content more than simply reading without writing” (pg.283).  Reading and writing should connect in instructional context because my belief is that students’ learning is improved when writing is included in their learning process. We can use writing to enhance the student’s reading experiences.  This is one of the most common ‘write-to-learn’ exercises. Reading involves communication that is graphically recorded, while when writing the student formulate and record their thinking. Reading and writing work best when one process stimulate the other.