How Explicit Writing Instruction Helps To Create Strong Readers In Middle School

Teaching students how to write can help to open up the world of books and reading.

Middle school English classes tend to focus on reading comprehension with a few writing assignments thrown in at the end of each unit. While this approach works for some students, it often leaves students with gaps in their writing abilities. I have found that using text-based writing instruction to incorporate explicit writing instruction into my lessons helps learners of all levels to become strong writers, and even stronger readers.

Explicit Writing Instruction Can Help Struggling Readers

Some people might work with a middle grade learner who struggles with reading and think, “I don’t have time to teach them writing fundamentals. I need to focus on getting their reading levels up!” While it is true that students will benefit from reading instruction, the truth is that they also need strong writing instruction. In fact, for many students, strong writing instruction might be the missing piece of the puzzle.

When educators take the time to teach students how to craft a complex sentence, or how to use appositives to provide their readers with more details, or how to use transitions in a paragraph, students will be able to transfer those writing skills to their reading. When they come across an appositive in an essay, they won’t be thrown off by it. Instead, they will realize that the appositive is there to give them more information about a noun in the sentence. When they read a paragraph that has transitions, they will know that the author included them as a map to help readers follow their train of thought. 

Students who struggle with reading need explicit writing instruction. It shows them how writers craft their words. As students build their own writing skills, they are acquiring keys that will help them unlock the texts that they are reading. As a result, their reading comprehension will improve.

Strong Readers Also Need To Be Taught Writing Skills

On the other end of the spectrum, strong readers also need structured writing instruction. People working with strong readings often assume that they need not spend time teaching these students how to write. After all, a student who devours several chapter books a week has no need for explicit writing instruction. Right?

Actually, many strong readers lack foundational writing skills. Yes, some readers can learn how to write through osmosis. They develop their own writing style simply by reading the works of great writers. But this is not the case for most readers. In my years as a teacher, I have come across several students whose reading comprehension was well above grade level, but they had no idea how to write a well developed paragraph. I’ve known students who loved reading, but would break down in tears of frustration as they struggled to complete assigned essays. 

The problem was that nobody had ever shown those students how to write an essay. Even though they were strong readers, they still needed clear, explicit writing instruction. Once they had been taught how to write, essays were no longer torturous. They were able to find their writing voice and gain confidence in their writing abilities.

In addition to building their writing skills, those students also saw an improvement in their reading comprehension. The explicit writing instruction gave them a deeper understanding of sentence and paragraph structure that helped them to grow as readers. 

Is There A Way To Provide Middle Grade Learners With Explicit Writing Instruction?

There are different programs that can be used to help students learn foundational writing skills, but I have found that explicit text-based writing instruction is most helpful for middle grade students. It combines clear writing instruction with reading comprehension. How does it work? I teach a mini-lesson on a writing concept that I want my students to master. It could be writing compound sentences or using transitions in their paragraphs. Then, we read a text together and write about the text using the strategy that we just covered in our mini-lesson. This text-based approach allows students to begin practicing the skills they learn right away. It is easy to implement, it can be used in any subject area, and it doesn’t require teachers to rethink their entire curriculum.  As an inclusion classroom teacher and a private writing tutor, I have seen a wide spectrum of students benefit from the structure that explicit text-based writing provides. And when I started homeschooling, I used text-based writing to help my own child find success.

Final Thoughts

While reading instruction is important, all middle grade students can benefit from a structured approach to teaching writing. Whether a student is a strong reader, or someone who struggles when it comes to reading comprehension, the right writing instruction will not only improve their writing abilities, but it will also help them grow as a reader.

If you need pre-made resources to help you incorporate explicit writing instruction in your homeschool or classroom, check out some of my resources here. If you are looking for a writing tutor who will provide structured writing instruction for your learner, you can also check out some of the writing courses that I offer.