Reading and Writing Connection

Reading and writing are interrelated in that, students who read more, write better and students who write better, read more. Understanding the relationship between these the two is important in other to become a better writer. When we read, new ideas emerge and it helps increase our language components such as grammar, spelling, vocabulary and or punctuation. It is essential however, that readers are exposed to different genres of writing. One of the most exciting forms of writing is poetry, however, how much a student enjoys it is based on the method that it is introduced and how well it is used within the classroom.

Poetry is an artistic form of writing which can be used in other subject areas besides the English Language.

Poetry can be used effectively in subjects such as Social Studies and Science as well as Mathematics and History. It allows students not only an opportunity to express themselves creatively, but as well allows them to see vivid images with their mind’s eye. They are able to see the illustrations and attach meaning to whatever concept is being done. A teacher may use a poem as a means of evaluation after a lesson or as an assessment during a lesson. This allows for interaction, critical thinking and as well, allows the student to practise the conventions of writing in another subject area. In so doing, writing and abiding to the rules of grammar does not remain confined to the language class. It may be useful also, to use ideas from other subject areas to generate ideas for writing poetry. This will allow students to make connections across the curriculum. In addition to that, pictures of both men and women poets should be posted on the school’s bulletin board, in order to allow both sexes to identify with the different genders as writers of poetry (Ediger 1975)

Implementing poetry in the other fields of study may be very difficult. Firstly, students, especially male students already have a negative attitude toward writing, therefore, it may be difficult to get them to write and if they do, they may not employ the elements of poetry writing. In addition to that, with regard to the already existing attitudes, it may not be a good idea to assess students using poetry writing as the assessment will be unreliable and invalid due to the fact that the student was not motivated or interested and may not take into consideration, the conventions of writing.