The document discusses how reading and writing should be taught together. It provides evidence that reading supports writing skills as children who read more become better writers by learning text structures and language. Similarly, writing supports reading as it helps develop phonemic awareness, phonics skills, and other basic reading abilities. The document recommends using mentor texts as examples to improve students' writing and encourages writing activities like journaling to make reading more engaging and help develop reading skills. Overall, it argues that reading and writing naturally inform each other and are most effective when integrated in the classroom.

1. Reading and
Writing
Why they should be taught together

2. Reading supports writing
• Reading and writing are naturally intertwined.
• According to K12 Readers, "Research has found that when
children read extensively, they become better writers. Reading
a variety of genres helps children learn text structures and
language that they can then transfer to their own writing. "
(2010).
• Reading and writing should be taught together.

3. Writing supports reading
• "At the same time practice in writing helps children build their
reading skills. This is especially true for younger children who
are working to develop phonemic awareness and phonics
skills." (The Relationship Between Reading and Writing,
2010).
• Students develop basic reading skills through reading and
writing.
• Writing is important in the development of reading and in the
growth of reading skills.

4. Read to enhance writing skills
• Ways to use reading to enhance writing skills
• Read mentor texts to improve writing.
• The Iowa Research Center Explains, "Mentor texts are written pieces
that serve as an example of good writing for student writers. The texts
are read for the purpose of studying the author’s craft, or the way the
author uses words and structures the writing. The goal is to provide
students a model they could emulate in crafting their own piece."
(2019).
• Use mentor text as an example for students to improve specific writing
skills.

5. Write to enhance reading skills
• The Institute for Writing and Rhetoric explains that, "Writing
forces students to become more careful, more engaged
participants in the learning process." (Intergrating Reading and
Writing, 2016).
• Writing also pushes students to be more engaged readers.
• Ways students can intergrate writing into reading.
• Writing in their text
• Short written responses to reading
• Reading response journals.

6. Conclusion
• "We needn't think of reading and writing as disparate course
activities. In fact, reading and writing work best when one
process fuels or informs the other." (Intergrating Reading and
Writing, 2016)
• Reading and writing are connected naturally, and it is essential
that they are taught that way.

7. References
• Institute forWriting and Rhetoric. (2016, April 14). Retrieved August 25, 2020, from
https://writing-speech.dartmouth.edu/teaching/first-year-writing-pedagogies-methods-
design/integrating-reading-and-writing
• The relationship between reading and writing. (2010, August 11). Retrieved August 24,
2020, from https://www.k12reader.com/the-relationship-between-reading-and-writing/
• Sean Thompson Communications Specialist. (2019, January 22). Using Mentor Texts to
Learn From the Best and Improve Students' Writing. Retrieved August 25, 2020, from
https://iowareadingresearch.org/blog/mentor-texts-student-writing