All readers are writers and all writers are readers.  Students may not always know what their style is and so, like clothes, they have to try a few styles on before they find their own. When it comes to finding your look, we might ask, "Does this top go with these pants?" When it comes to our writing, it sounds more like this: "What is the most effective structure for my purpose?" "How can I make this transition smoother?"  "What literary element would make this text help my reader 'see' what I'm writing?"

In this workshop, we will explore how students will be able to use their own personal schema to gain insight into what they are reading and what they are writing.  Making connections with the text increases students' abilities to comprehend, retain, and gain more from what they read.  These same connections can help a student gain better communication through their writing. 

Participants will walk away knowing how to

• Select texts for specific elements,
• Turn reading instruction into writing opportunities, and
• Set up activities so that writing is engaging and fun.