Writing Across the Curriculum: Unleashing Student Potential

Writing Across the Curriculum (WAC) is an educational approach that emphasizes the importance of writing in all subject areas, not just in English, Language Arts, or even the humanities. Instead of viewing writing as a separate skill, WAC encourages educational leaders and teachers to integrate writing into the learning process across the curriculum, from science and math to history and art.

This approach offers numerous benefits for students. By writing about their learning in various subjects, students deepen their understanding of concepts, develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills, and improve their communication abilities. For example, a science student might write a lab report summarizing their experiment, while a history student might analyze primary sources and write an essay about a historical event. There are numerous ways to add writing to subjects outside English Language Arts. By writing about what they are learning and doing, students not only build endurance and time practicing writing, but they make learning more personal, build executive functioning capabilities, and cement takeaways from important classroom activities and learning experiences. 

WAC also helps students see the connections between different subjects and understand how knowledge is integrated across disciplines. Writing about a mathematical concept, for instance, can help students develop a deeper understanding of its real-world applications. Similarly, writing about a literary text can encourage students to analyze the historical and social context in which it was created.

Implementing WAC effectively requires collaboration among teachers across different subject areas. Teachers can share best practices, develop common writing assignments, and provide students with consistent feedback on their writing. Professional development opportunities can also help teachers learn how to effectively integrate writing into their instruction.

Resources for Implementing WAC:

• The National Writing Project: https://www.nwp.org/

• The Council for the Advancement of Teaching: https://sc.edu/about/offices_and_divisions/cte/index.php

By embracing the principles of WAC, educators can create a more engaging and effective learning environment where students develop strong writing skills and a deeper understanding of the world around them.