1/ What you need to know

Incorporating writing across the curriculum is a proven strategy that enhances students' learning experiences and deepens their understanding in all subjects. Research underscores the value of integrating writing into arithmetic instruction, emphasizing models like Write to Learn (WTL) and formative feedback to bolster critical thinking skills and promote a comprehensive grasp of mathematical concepts. This approach not only improves academic performance but also equips students with transferable skills essential for success in various disciplines. If you want to improve student achievement results, require more writing.

Exploring alternative methods such as handwriting benefits and the Draw-and-Write approach further underscores the importance of incorporating writing across all content areas. Handwriting's cognitive advantages in facilitating learning processes, coupled with the engaging nature of the Draw-and-Write method, enhance student participation and foster interdisciplinary connections. By embracing these varied approaches to writing, educators can enrich students' educational experiences, promote creativity, and facilitate deeper connections between different subject areas, ultimately preparing students with essential skills for lifelong learning and success.

2/ What you should do about it

Drawing from William Zinsser's "Writing to Learn," here are five recommendations to help improve results in your school, emphasizing the integration of writing into the learning process across all disciplines:

1. Incorporate Writing Across the Curriculum: Encourage teachers in all subjects to integrate writing assignments into their curriculum. This isn't limited to traditional essays or reports; it could include journals, reflection papers, research projects, or even creative writing tasks that relate to the subject matter. This approach will help students engage more deeply with the material, clarify their understanding, and retain information more effectively. Emphasize that writing to learn is a tool not just for English classes but for science, math, history, and beyond.

2. Promote Clarity and Simplicity in Writing: Advocate for writing that is clear, concise, and jargon-free. Encourage teachers to emphasize the importance of simplicity in communication, helping students express complex ideas in accessible language. This will not only improve their writing skills but also enhance their critical thinking and ability to analyze and synthesize information.

3. Foster a Culture of Revision: Create an environment where revision is valued as a critical part of the writing process. Encourage teachers to allow students to submit drafts for feedback before final grading and to incorporate peer review sessions. This teaches students that writing is a process of continuous improvement and that their first draft is just the beginning of refining their thoughts and expressions.

4. Use Writing as a Tool for Personal Connection: Encourage teachers to allow students to explore their personal connections to the material through writing. This could mean writing about personal experiences, opinions, or reflections that relate to the subject matter. When students see the relevance of what they are learning to their own lives, they are more engaged and motivated.

5. Develop a Reading and Writing Partnership: Promote programs that pair reading with writing. Encourage teachers to assign readings that inspire and inform students' writing tasks. This could include a variety of genres and styles to expose students to different ways of thinking and writing. By making reading a companion to writing, students can expand their vocabulary, see examples of good writing in action, and find inspiration for their own work.

Keep reading

• Developing accomplished writers: Lessons from recent research 

• Writing to Learn

• Writing to Read: Evidence for How Writing Can Improve Reading