Learning to Read by Writing Learning to Read by Writing By Susan Knauer, Oceanview School Second Grade Teacher, Anchorage It is impossible for me to think of teaching either reading or writing as an isolated subject. They work together to build language skills. Writing Workshop is a means to use children's natural creativity and imagination to develop both their reading and writing skills.
Children enjoy listening to and telling stories.
Therefore, allowing them the opportunity to share their stories in Writing Workshop develops all of their language skills. During the Workshop time, students are permitted to write stories on any topic of interest to them. When students are writing stories, we focus on the mechanics of correct writing, but not at the expense of destroying their enthusiasm and sense of accomplishment. This strengthens their phonics skills that they can apply to the reading that they do. As they write stories, we discuss various elements of a story, such as the beginning, middle and end, the setting, problem and solution and characters.