Writing to Learn Example Lesson

Field Guide Alignment
Writing and Writing Interventions, Principle 1, Practice 4:
Ask students to answer questions in writing about materials read or presented in class.

Writing in the middle grades is an important tool to support learning in all content areas. When students write about what they read or experience, their knowledge is deepened and sustained longer. Essentially, students are writing to learn.

Below, you’ll meet two educators who developed a lesson that integrated a writing to learn strategy with their novel unit on The Giver by Lois Lowry. In addition, you’ll find an MSMI example lesson and accompanying student materials to help you implement the strategy in your own classroom.