We too often think of literacy as simply reading words. In reality, literacy is reading for comprehension, writing, higher-order thinking, as well as speaking and discussing.

What separates top students from their counterparts is their writing skills. Today’s release of Writing To Read makes the case that writing actually improves reading in three ways:

1. Writing about what we read deepens our understanding, personalizes, and connects us to what we have read.
2. Improving writing skills has been shown to improve reading skills.
3. Writing improves thinking and helps us to gain insight about reading.

By some estimates, only 20% of students have the writing skills they need to succeed in college and postsecondary education and training. Keep in mind that 20% or less of our ninth graders eventually graduate from college. If we are going to break through the 20% barrier, we must improve students’ literacy skills.

"Reading gets them to college, but writing keeps them there." - Mel Riddile