 What is writing to learn?  Why use writing to learn?  What are some writing to learn instructional tools and strategies?  What can writing to learn tell us about student learning?

I can explain how writing to learn is a powerful tool for improving both reading and content learning. I can demonstrate this understanding in unit and lesson planning.

Checkmate By Alfred Tatum He taught me how to play chess when I was younger To make all the right moves The rooks, the knights, the pawns, the bishops I could castle and use my bitch my Queen to protect myself All of these thoughts flashed in my mind when the car pulled up beside us It’s 12:15 a.m. I am eighteen, sitting on the passenger’s side No where to move, no strategy I thought about learning chess when I was younger The young man in the other car lifts his hands—checker hands, TIC-TAC-TOE hands I was no match for him I thought my scholarship letter would save me—it was my next move My buddies scream first I’m hit next Checkmate—game ov...

Three Types of Writing Writing to learn Writing to demonstrate learning Writing for authentic purposes What are the major differences? How would you include each in your instruction?

Role-Play Video

Role-Play Video

Reading Strategies PKMaking connections to prior knowledge and developing schema I/PInferring and predicting QAsking questions before, during, and after reading SDetermining important ideas and summarizing VVisualizing S/RSynthesizing and retelling M/CMonitoring and clarifying understanding of text

Writing to Learn

Graham, S., & Hebert, M.A. (2010). Writing to read: Evidence for how writing can improve reading. A Carnegie Corporation Time to Act Report. Washington, DC: Alliance for Excellent Education. Graham, S., & Perin, D. (2007). Writing next: Effective strategies to improve writing of adolescents in middle and high schools—A report to Carnegie Corporation of New York. Washington, DC: Alliance for Excellent Education. Kopp, B. (2010). Writing & UW-L. Retrieved from June The National Commission on Writing for America’s Families, Schools, and Colleges, “The Neglected “R”: The Need for a Writing Revolution 19 (2003), available at (last visited June 02, 2010) Tatum, A. (2009). Reading for their life: Rebuilding the textual lineages of African American adolescent males. Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann.