But while reading may be in the spotlight, research is clear: students won't reach their full potential in literacy without strong writing skills.

Reading and writing are two sides of the same coin, and when taught together, these core literacy skills don’t just complement each other – they enhance each other.

A landmark meta-analysis by Steve Graham and Michael Hebert (2011) supports this, showing that writing about texts significantly improves reading comprehension, and that integrating reading and writing instruction boosts outcomes in both areas. Their review of 95 studies makes a compelling case: these skills are most effective when taught in tandem.

Yet despite the evidence, the integration of reading and writing instruction is not common practice in many classrooms – and that is a missed opportunity to boost students’ growth and understanding.

“When students read with a writer’s eye, they notice the structure, tone, style and techniques an author uses,” says Sarah Bakker, Strategy Manager at Seven Steps to Writing Success. “That awareness supercharges both their reading comprehension and their writing skills.”

Schools that make the connection between reading and writing skills explicit are seeing big shifts in student engagement, confidence and performance. Teaching students how to read like a writer and write like a reader helps them develop their critical and creative thinking skills.

This connection becomes explicit and visible to students when they learn the techniques that professional authors use. They begin to understand how authors hook the reader, build tension or craft a great ending and they have the confidence to experiment with these techniques in their own writing.

Bringing the Reading–Writing Connection to Life in the Classroom
The key to stronger literacy? Teaching reading and writing together – and doing it in ways that inspire students. Seven Steps to Writing Success – Australia’s most popular writing program – is excited to support schools with a range of read to write resources.

Free webinar

This June, Seven Steps is launching a free webinar to help teachers explore the power of the reading–writing connection. Participants will discover how to help students:

  • read like a writer – understand and respond to texts by analysing the techniques authors use, such as vocabulary, text features, language devices, voice and style, and
  • write like a reader – create texts that engage the reader by applying the techniques professional writers use.

Session participants will leave with 3 activities to run back in their classroom – based on the 2025 National Simultaneous Storytime book: The Truck Cat written by Deborah Frenkel. Sign up here.

New Read to Write literacy units

In addition, Seven Steps has launched a brand new Read to Write course – available on Seven Steps’ online platform, Teacher Hub. This course provides teachers with literacy units that make the reading–writing connection visible and authentic.

These resources give teachers the tools – and students the confidence – to grow both skills side by side.

When students understand the craft behind the texts they read, they become more engaged, critical readers. And when they apply those techniques in their own writing, they become clearer, more capable communicators.

It’s a practical and engaging step toward stronger literacy – and a more confident generation of readers and writers.

Explore Seven Steps’ new Read to Write course with a Seven Steps membership here: https://www.sevenstepswriting.com/memberships/