Writing and Reading Comprehension

1. Writing and Reading Comprehension How to improve student ability and performance.

2. Contents: 1. Introduction 2. The Importance of Reading and Writing 3. Improving Reading -Strategies 4. The Importance of Writing 5. Improving Writing -Strategies

3. Introduction International students have to learn the English language and communicate with the English language. One of the best ways for students to learn the language is to practice their reading and writing skills. Improving these skills helps their learning of the language.

4. The Importance of Reading Reading may be the most important skill to a student. In order to gain more knowledge through books, students must know how to read. The world is labeled with symbols and words and written words are used to communicate information. By improving the reading skills of students, we are improving their chances for success.

5. Improving Reading Strategy 1: Reading with New Words -Have students read aloud and allow them to ask questions whenever they find a word that is unclear. -Have students read independently with a dictionary so that they may look up any new words that they do not know. Require a minimum of 5 words to be listed along with their definition on paper. (Can also be used for homework). This allows students to read and find unfamiliar words and become familiar with them. It also allows them to practice some writing.

6. Improving Reading Strategy 2: Reading advanced material -Have students read books above their grade level. -Students will read freely without any assignment. This can be done at the beginning or ending of a class session. This allows students to familiarize with higher level material without having to work with it. This lets them practice with more advanced material which will help them learn material that is not as advanced.

7. Improving Reading Strategy 3: Discussion of Reading Material -After reading a section of reading material aloud. Create a discussion with students to assess their comprehension and explain unfamiliar words and phrases. -Students wil be able to ask questions and will be asked to answer questions. This allows the instructor to assess the students level of comprehension. It also helps the teacher improve the comprehension of the students by explaining to the students what they don't understand.

8. Improving Reading Strategy 4: Comprehension Tests -Instructors will tell students to read a section and then ask them questions that focus on summarizing the content. -Students will demonstrate their understanding and comprehension of the reading material. This allows the instructor to assess the students level of comprehension.

9. Improving Reading Strategy 5: Daily Practice -Have students read daily for at least 10 min. -This can be done at the beginning or ending of a class session. It can also be done in between larger sessions. This allow students to practice their reading skills and become more comfortable with reading.

10. Example: Directions: Read the passage. Then answer the questions below. • The Baxter house is located at the end of the street. This house sits farther back from the curb than the other houses. It is almost difficult to see from the road without peering behind the deformed oak tree that has obscured it for years. Even so, the Baxter house stands out from the other houses on the street. It is tall and white. However, this white is no longer pristinely white, but a dingy grayish cream color. Long vines hang from the tattered roof. The Baxter house is two stories tall and has a large yard in the back that has never been mowed. The other houses on the street are a mere one story and have been painted a variety of colors. The newer, single story properties all appear to have been built around the same time; the yards mostly being of the same size, and the houses appearing to be clones of one another. Aside from the Baxter house at the end, this street is a perfect slice of middle America. The inhabitants of the other houses wonder who lives in the ancient, dilapidated house at the end of the street.

11. Students will answer the questions: Questions • 1) Based on its use in the passage, which of the following statements accurately describes something that has been obscured? • A. The tall, thick pine trees in Chloe’s yard provide shade for her house. • B. A sun visor is one of Ken’s favorite hats, because it helps protect his face from harsh rays. • C. After it stopped raining, the sun was barely visible through the gray clouds. • D. Because of his favorite, bright red sweatshirt, Anthony is always easy to spot. • 2) What makes the other houses on the street stand out visually from the Baxter house? • A. The other houses have larger families living in them. • B. The other houses on the street are a mere one story. • C. The Baxter house is at the end of the street. • D. The Baxter house is almost difficult to see from the road.

12. 3) In the middle of the passage, the author writes, “[the Baxter] house is tall and white. However, this white is no longer pristinely white, but a dingy grayish cream color. Long vines hang from the tattered roof. The Baxter house is two stories tall and has a large yard in the back that has never been mowed.” Using this information, it can be concluded that the owner • A. does not, or cannot, take care of the house • B. plans on buying a new house soon • C. thinks the other people in the neighborhood do not like him or his house • D. cannot afford to care for his or her property • 4) Which characteristic makes it clear that the “newer, single story properties all appear to have been built around the same time”? • A. They have all been painted the same color. • B. They are all situated next to each other on the street. • C. There are no other oak trees on this street. • D. The yards are mostly the same size.

13. Check the answers: • 1) C • 2) B • 3) A • 4) D

14. The Importance of Writing -Writing allows for students to organize their thoughts. -This is important for planning which is a necessary skill. -Writing is a communication skill. -Students who are good at writing will have a better chance at communicating their ideas clearly.

15. Improving Writing Strategy 1: Daily Practice -Have students write every day for a minimum of 10 min. Alternatively, this can be assigned as homework with a minimum of 1 paragraph to be written. -This can be a daily journal or letter. Daily practice will create a productive habit for students that will make the skill of writing much more familiar. Therefore, they will be more prepared for future writing assignments.

16. Improving Writing Strategy 2: Restating Sentences -Have students rewrite several sentences in their own words. This will help both reading comprehension and writing. It will help their writing skills as they will have to choose words that match the words that they read.

17. Improving Writing Strategy 3: Peer Editing -Have students edit each others writing. This will help students identify mistakes in writing and will allows them to see the mistakes in their own writing. Also, it will help their reading comprehension as they will have to understand what they are reading in order to edit it.

18. Improving Writing Strategy 4: Summaries -Have students read a selection and summarize it. This will improve both reading comprehension and writing. Students will have to understand the material in order to write a summary. The summary will provide more writing practice.

19. Improving Writing Strategy 5: Writing Short Stories -Have students create stories in writing. This strategy lets students practice writing while allowing them to also be creative. They can also be asked to create reading comprehension questions about their stories.

20. worksheet • Write a paragraph about your summer planning then exchange your paper with your partner to edit it.

21. Writing and Reading Comprehension:Final Steps: • Teachers will review the lessons with students. • Teachers will download students' results from tests on the website. • Students will repeat lessons if necessary.