
Writing about Reading: The R.I.C.A. Print Guide
writing before, during, and after reading to improve comprehension across the curriculum areas
The Northern Nevada Writing Project--sponors of the WritingFix website--collaborated with the Washoe County School District and Nevada's Northwest Regional Professional Development Program in 2006 to create a wonderful print resource for 4th-12th grade teachers: The Reading in the Content Areas Print Guide.
Hello, my name is Kim Cuevas, and in 2007, I became the Director of the Northern Nevada Writing Project. I have been involved with Northern Nevada's outstanding Writing Project since 1999, when I was accepted into their Summer Invitational Institute. My experience with the NNWP continues to make me a better teacher, and I encourage all teachers to investigate the Writing Projects in their own regions.
I also serve as Language Arts Program Coordinator for Washoe County, Nevada, which is Nevada's second largest school district. I coordinate everything from the spelling bee to professional learning communities among teachers.
In both my professional positions, I often work on a topic that is near to my heart: helping students comprehend text better. Whether it's a piece of literature, a science website, a math textbook, or a historical document, students need more help in becoming independent readers and comprehenders of text. I love to gather and share new techniques that help students see that being able to read well is a life-skill.
On this page at WritingFix, I share some favorite techniques that combine reading comprehension with writing tasks. I believe students are more engaged in reading when meaningful and authentic writing tasks are assigned at key points of instruction. Here, I will share ideas and resources from the NNWP's marvelous print resource--the 2006 Reading in the Content Areas Guide--and resources that I continue to discover in my work with Northern Nevada's teachers.