‘One size fits all’ not an effective approach to teaching reading, writing

By René Hill (contact)

Wednesday, April 15, 2009 | 5:11 p.m.

Rene Hill

I have spent the past few weeks doing research for a paper on literacy and the reading and writing connections. It has been an area of debate among educators for a while now.

The evidence is conflicting as to the effectiveness of using reading to teach writing and writing to reinforce reading. There is, however, a strong correlation between the two, and it is here that research does agree.

Reading can give insights into how writers put down their thoughts on paper. It can give some writers an effective model of specific types of writing. For example, students can read examples of description, narration or persuasion and analyze the contents. It can be used to demonstrate the use of adjectives and transitions. In other words, the mechanics of writing can be taught through reading to some students.

There are other cases where the two just don't seem to help students.

In addition, it has been found that some students just don't get the connection between reading and writing. This is why it is impossible for educators to implement one specific program for all learners. Unfortunately, in the standardized testing environment of today's schools, there is a mentality that one size must fit all.

Testing has become big business and it has become a driving force in how literacy is taught and what is taught. That may be why there is so much conflicting theory about how students should be taught reading and writing.

As an English teacher, I have found that looking at the needs of the student is the best indicator of what I need to teach and how it should be taught. We have to address a diverse assortment of learners in the classroom.

Some students see the relationship between reading and writing, while others are totally lost and see no relationship between the two. Again, we must look at the needs of the student and stop trying to fit a certain program to the classroom environment.

Parents can help by advocating for their child if he or she is having problems with reading and writing in school. Ask the teacher how the material is being taught, and if instruction is being differentiated to meet the need of the student.

The real message in literacy education is that there is no one size fits all.

Rene Hill is an English teacher in the Clark County School District. She can be reached c/o The News, 2360 Corporate Circle, Third Floor, Henderson, NV 89074 or editor@hbcpub.com.