Why Writing Instruction Is Essential | Dr. Stephen Ciullo

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 Ciullo Dr. 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 Links Email: ciullo@txstate.edu Bio: https://faculty.txst.edu/profile/1921294 Chapters 00:00 - Why Teachers Aren't Taught How to Teach Writing 01:00 - Meet Dr. Stephen Ciullo 03:21 - Why Writing Instruction Needs More Attention 05:57 - How Students Become Skilled Writers 07:24 - Skills Students Need to Become Better Writers 08:19 - Cognitive Load and Writing Strategy Overload 11:57 - What Research Says About Teaching Writing 12:18 - Why Writing Skills Don't Transfer Across Genres 14:13 - Teaching Text Structure and Purpose 15:10 - How Parents Can Support Writing Through Reading 17:11 - The Connection Between Reading and Writing 17:51 - Writing Problem or Comprehension Problem? 21:02 - Why Teachers Need More Writing Training 25:42 - What Effective Writing Instruction Looks Like 30:41 - Explicit vs. Incidental Writing Instruction 33:56 - Writing Support for Students With IEPs 34:36 - How to Write Better IEP Goals for Writing 37:37 - What Parents Should Ask About Writing Instruction 41:41 - When Your Child Struggles With Writing