Do you integrate writing in your classroom? You should!
In the elementary classroom, there is only one way to fit it all in, by integrating subject areas. As a fourth-grade teacher, I integrated writing into every subject nearly every day. This was out of pure necessity, but it also leads to a deeper understanding of the content. Even the most reluctant writers can find success when writing in a content area, and their confidence will flow over into general writing too.
Why Should We Integrate Writing In Content Areas?
First of all, writing is a life skill. It will continue to benefit our students long after they leave our classrooms. Writing is a tool for communicating thought. It won’t go out of style even if it may change how it is done.
The act of writing also aids in understanding. When you write about a subject, you increase your depth of knowledge in the same way you would if you have a conversation. Writing helps us to cement vocabulary we have learned and use it in context.
Writing also ups student engagement and requires them to think critically about their topic.
The Benefits of Integrating Writing with Content Areas
There are just not enough hours in the day to teach each subject in solitude, but also why would you want to? When we integrate subjects we accomplish more and go deeper.
Writing can save time and encourage collaboration. You can also use writing to assess student learning. This process puts students in the position of being an expert.
Strategies for Integrating Writing with Content Areas
There are many ways to integrate writing, but these are a few of my favorites! Be sure to stick around until the end for a freebie that you and your students are sure to love!
Integrate Writing with Silent Conversations-
- Students form partners
- Each student has their own piece of paper and writing utensil
- You give a topic
- You give think time
- Students start by writing a question or comment on the topic
- Students trade papers with their partners
- Partners respond to one another
- Continue this process until time is out
Integrate Writing with Quick Writes-
- You give a topic
- You give think time
- A timer is set
- Students write everything they know about the topic
- Students share their writing
I love to support my students during quick writes by providing them with either a photo as stimuli or content vocabulary for them to use, sometimes both. You can check out resources for photo and vocabulary quick writes here.
Integrate Writing with Sticky Note Summaries
- Index card sized sticky notes
- Regular sized sticky notes
- Small page marker sized sticky notes
This strategy is especially great for reviewing content ahead of an assessment, but also can be used to check prior knowledge.
- Each student is given one sticky note of each size
- You give a topic
- You give think time
- Starting with the largest sticky note students write down everything they know about the topic
- Students share what they wrote
- Moving to the regular sized sticky note students write as much as they can fit, in normal sized handwriting, about the topic again
- Students share what they wrote
- Finally, students write their best summary of the topic on the smallest sticky note being sure to include all important information
- Students share their summaries
Integrate Writing with a Draw and Label
Drawing and labeling should absolutely be considered writing and serves a definite purpose in content areas.
- You give a topic
- You give think time
- Each student draws a representation of the topic
- Students label their drawing using content language and vocabulary
- Students share
Integrate Writing with Point of View Stories
- You give a topic
- Students write a narrative from the point of view of the topic e.g. a piece of sediment, a person on the Oregon Trail…
I love to have my students complete dice simulations that inspire their writing. You can check out dice simulation resources here.
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