Why Writing Instruction Is Essential

In this episode of The Reading Symphony Podcast, Katie talks with Dr. Stephen Ciullo, Professor of Education, about why writing instruction can get left behind and what effective writing instruction actually looks like.They discuss why more writing practice isn't always enough, the importance of explicit instruction and modeling, and why teachers need more support in teaching writing.Dr. Ciullo also shares practical advice for parents of struggling writers, including questions to ask at school, how reading comprehension can affect writing, and how to develop more useful IEP writing goals.About Dr. Stephen CiulloDr. Stephen Ciullo is a Professor of Education whose research focuses on writing instruction, students with learning disabilities, and helping teachers use evidence-based writing practices in the classroom.Dr. Ciullo's LinksEmail: ciullo@txstate.eduBio: https://faculty.txst.edu/profile/1921294 Chapters00:00 - Why Teachers Aren't Taught How to Teach Writing01:00 - Meet Dr. Stephen Ciullo03:21 - Why Writing Instruction Needs More Attention05:57 - How Students Become Skilled Writers07:24 - Skills Students Need to Become Better Writers08:19 - Cognitive Load and Writing Strategy Overload11:57 - What Research Says About Teaching Writing12:18 - Why Writing Skills Don't Transfer Across Genres14:13 - Teaching Text Structure and Purpose15:10 - How Parents Can Support Writing Through Reading17:11 - The Connection Between Reading and Writing17:51 - Writing Problem or Comprehension Problem?21:02 - Why Teachers Need More Writing Training25:42 - What Effective Writing Instruction Looks Like30:41 - Explicit vs. Incidental Writing Instruction33:56 - Writing Support for Students With IEPs34:36 - How to Write Better IEP Goals for Writing37:37 - What Parents Should Ask About Writing Instruction41:41 - When Your Child Struggles With Writing