Is Teaching Writing As Important As Teaching Reading? via VOA

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Is Teaching Writing As Important As Teaching Reading?

VOA: 7.16.2019 LISTEN 04:49

When educators think of literacy -- the ability to read and write -- they often place more importance on students’ abilities to read and fully understand a piece of writing.

But experts say critical and creative writing skills are equally important. And, they say, they are too often overlooked in the classroom.

Compared to reading, writing is more active. It helps students be independent thinkers, take ownership of their stories and ideas and communicate them clearly to others, says Elyse Eidman-Aadahl. She heads the National Writing Project, which offers help for teachers who want to push students to write more.

Eidman-Aadahl said, “Unless we want an education system just focused on making people consumers and not focused on helping them be producers, this emphasis on reading only -- which does happen in so many places -- is very short-sighted.”

She said students’ writing work now usually centers on examining a text, instead of presenting a new idea. Writing, she said, should be “the central thing you’re learning. Not writing on a test, not writing to demonstrate you’re learning what someone has taught you....”  LISTEN 04:49

The Associated Press (7.09.2019 by Molly Sprayregen) reported this story.

Ashley Thompson adapted it for VOA Learning English.

Caty Weaver was the editor.