In a balanced literacy approach, which activity supports connecting reading and writing development?

• A. Writing only in journals with no reading
• B. Reflecting on text-to-self connections in a writing journal
• C. Memorizing vocabulary lists
• D. Reading base-level decodable texts without discussion

Answer: (B)

Connecting reading and writing happens best when students reflect on how what they read relates to their own lives and then capture those thoughts in writing. In a balanced literacy approach, using a writing journal to record text-to-self connections lets students articulate meaning from the reading, practice language and voice, and transfer ideas into their writing practice. This kind of reflection deepens comprehension and provides authentic writing opportunities, since students must explain why a character, event, or idea matters to them and support it with evidence or reasoning. Writing only without reading misses the bridge between seeing ideas in texts and expressing them in writing, while memorizing vocabulary or reading isolated texts without discussion doesn’t cultivate that integrated skill set. So, reflecting on text-to-self connections in a writing journal best supports linking reading and writing development.