How to Incorporate Reading & Writing in the Classroom

Reading and writing are essential skills.

Whether you are an elementary or middle school teacher, getting children to practice reading and writing skills isn't always easy. There are a variety of engaging ways in which you can incorporate reading and writing in your classroom. It is important to tailor your reading and writing activities to the grade level of students.

Instructions

1. Select engaging and exciting reading materials that offer children a chance to learn about things they're interested in. Include reading materials that offer a wide array of subjects in early grades. You can also choose to create a story introduction that children can then complete.

2. Choose creative approaches to engaging students in in your classroom. For example, ask elementary age children to choose several words that best describe a story that has been read to them. Next ask students to add to the story. Write out the additions on the blackboard or in a handout and go over the text in class. Children enjoy making up their own fantastical stories and will be more engaged in learning how to read and write a story they helped shape. For middle school students, learning to write a story and then reading it in class can be an equally productive way to get students to practice reading and writing skills.

3. Reinforce reading and writing skills by asking students to read text out load in class. You can ask students to share a passage from a favorite book or short story or write an essay on a topic of interest. They could also write a fictional story that they would like to share with their peers. Assign extra credit for students that participate in writing essays, poems or stories and presenting them in class.

4. Develop reading and writing competitions including a spelling bee or creative writing contests that offers a reward to winners. Another idea is to create a classroom magazine or newsletter rotating who will work on the magazine/newsletter so that all your students get a chance to participate.

References

• NETC: Literacy Development