This week we saw Ms. Lightwood's video explaining how to use pictures on a mobile phone to encourage our ELLs to talk. Now, I'd like to share this article about using pictures to spark language development.
The authors explain how they choose a picture from The Times, remove the caption, and post it in their classrooms on a Monday to have the students analyze and tell what is going on in the photo? (WGOITP) The photo is posted on the white board, so all can see it, and the students have iPads to use google translate in case they need to translate words they want to use into English. They also use an app called Skitch to annotate and draw on the photograph.
Once the students brainstorm on their own, the class shares their thoughts. The teachers make sure the students can back up or provide evidence from the picture to support what they think is going on in this picture. The ideas are all written down on a class T chart that the students can refer back to.
After the discussion, the students are asked to complete a paragraph telling a claim they can make about the photo, evidence to support their claim, and a question about the photo. This activity is differentiated depending on the level of the ELL.
After this task is completed, they then write these paragraphs on a blog that other users can add their own comments. This provides even more authentic practice with writing and analytical thinking as they also add their own ideas and comments to other's picture ideas. By Friday, the teachers post the picture, along with comments, onto a poster to share with the classroom!
As a bonus learning activity, the teachers take sentences from the blog with errors in them to teach mini grammar lessons! These learning situations provide very real mistakes that students make and the teacher does not have to "wonder" what grammar points to teach.
As I said at the beginning, I love this activity and will be planning on using this activity at the start of next school year.
Leon, C., & Montemagno, M. (2018, March 08). Reader Idea | How to Use Interesting Photos to Help Students Become Better Writers. Retrieved March 15, 2018, from https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/08/learning/lesson-plans/reader-idea-how-to-use-interesting-photos-to-help-students-become-better-writers.html
Sherri,
ReplyDeleteI actually found the same article! I thought it was such a clever way to get students to think creatively. I have found that I learn more about what the students know and build comprehension by just showing them a picture and having them share out what they know. I use wordless picture books to help build vocabulary and to build confidence in the students to share out their thinking.
I'm glad you found this article exciting too!
Sam