Other Ways To Use Picture Books In High School English Classes
When I selected this topic for my virtual seminar, I thought that I was already doing a wonderful job of using picture books in my English classes. However, after much reading in preparation for my presentation, I came to see that there were many other ways that picture books could be incorporated. I am excited to try these next school year.
I could use picture books for reader’s theater. Because they are relatively short, picture books are a manageable size for students to use to create scripts. These could then be memorized and presented to the class (or a wider audience). Through reader’s theater, the students could “learn how to use voice and facial expressions, and how to engage an audience, along with learning how to tell a good story”. (Rief, 1992)
In addition to teaching my students about theme, I could use picture books to teach other literary elements including climax, point of view, foreshadowing, characterization, plot, tone, irony and satire.
“Many picture books, if not actually poems, border on poetry and can certainly teach some of poetry’s qualities”. (Heard, 1992) I could use picture books to teach students literary devices such as rhyme, rhythm, metaphor, simile and alliteration. I could also have my students turn the poems that they love into picture books or the picture books they love into poems.
I could use picture books to model peer editing. Talking about and analyzing picture books in class teaches students how to talk about one another’s writing as they work on and share their stories in peer writing groups.
I could use picture books as examples of different genres such as folk tales, fantasy and historical fiction.
Instead of presenting favorite novelists, poets or short story writers as part of an author share in Writing 12, my students could share their favorite picture book authors and illustrators.
I could even use picture books to teach my students about language. Rather than using notes and worksheets to teach my students grammar, I could use Kites Sail High by Ruth Heller. In this book, Heller teaches all about verbs using vibrant pictures, memorable imagery and vivid language. I could also use picture books to teach about use of dialogue, paragraphing, and punctuation.
Do you have any other suggestions for me?
I could use picture books for reader’s theater. Because they are relatively short, picture books are a manageable size for students to use to create scripts. These could then be memorized and presented to the class (or a wider audience). Through reader’s theater, the students could “learn how to use voice and facial expressions, and how to engage an audience, along with learning how to tell a good story”. (Rief, 1992)
In addition to teaching my students about theme, I could use picture books to teach other literary elements including climax, point of view, foreshadowing, characterization, plot, tone, irony and satire.
“Many picture books, if not actually poems, border on poetry and can certainly teach some of poetry’s qualities”. (Heard, 1992) I could use picture books to teach students literary devices such as rhyme, rhythm, metaphor, simile and alliteration. I could also have my students turn the poems that they love into picture books or the picture books they love into poems.
I could use picture books to model peer editing. Talking about and analyzing picture books in class teaches students how to talk about one another’s writing as they work on and share their stories in peer writing groups.
I could use picture books as examples of different genres such as folk tales, fantasy and historical fiction.
Instead of presenting favorite novelists, poets or short story writers as part of an author share in Writing 12, my students could share their favorite picture book authors and illustrators.
I could even use picture books to teach my students about language. Rather than using notes and worksheets to teach my students grammar, I could use Kites Sail High by Ruth Heller. In this book, Heller teaches all about verbs using vibrant pictures, memorable imagery and vivid language. I could also use picture books to teach about use of dialogue, paragraphing, and punctuation.
Do you have any other suggestions for me?
posted by Mrs. Corman at 9:11 AM
11 Comments:
Have you ever used picture books as story starters? "The Mysteries of Harris Burdick" by Chris Van Allsburg would be excellent. This is one of my favorite books.
oops - that last comment was from me - Tracy
Tracy, is the book you mentioned a wordless picture book? I have used these as story starters. My daughter and I really enjoy Chris Van Allsburg's books, but I don't think that I have come across this one. I'm going to order it from the library. Thanks for the suggestion!
Oh, and don't worry about this being your first time blogging. It's only my second time, and I still have a few things to work out.
Thanks for taking the time to respond to my blog.
I think you have hit the nail on the head Heather, picture books can be used for absolutely everything. They can be applied to any subject area, for any topic, with any grade level, and create all kinds of wonderful discussions. I just bought some wordless pictures books, one of which you might really like called Picturescape by a Canadian author Elisa (can't remember the last name). It is about a visit to an art gallery. Also for art, Jon Sciezka also has a great one about going to visit his friend "Art" and people keep sending him to galleries. He uses acutal paintings by famous artists to tell his story. You'd love it!!
If I can think of anything else, I will send you another response later. Again, great job!! LOVED IT!
Jillian
Thanks again, Jillian.
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I seem to remember a book called Loop the Loop which was about a friendship between a young girl and an old woman. I think the old woman is hospitalized with alzheimers (sp?) and I remember it as a good book (though my memory sometimes deceives me).
Margaret Mackey gave us a cool activity in LIS 580. She gave us a copy of the text only of a rhyme I think was called We're All in the Dumps with Jack and Guy. She asked us to write down what we thought it was about, then share it in a small group. She then gave us a copy of the rhyme illustrated by Maurice Sendak. It was amazing--a really great lesson in the way illustrations tell a story--sometimes an altogether different story, from what you expect.
Thanks, Carol. I really liked the lesson idea, and I will definately use it next school year. I think that my students would enjoy comparing their stories with the original. I'll look for the book as well.
So many great ideas!! I'm wishing I had a classroom so I could try them out!
Great Job, Heather!
Heather,
I recently stumbled upon a series of books called "This Is.." books by a writer/illustrator called Miroslav Sasek. They are picture books depicting life and culture in different cities and countries. Some titles include: This is Venice, This is Greece, This is New York, This is London, etc. They were published in the 50's and 60's but have recently been re-printed.
I really enjoyed looking at them and so did my children.
I thought, perhaps you could use these as a jumping off point in a thematic unit on travel or culture and then have students create their own "This Is..." for their hometown or a place that they have visited.
P.S. I have to echo Tracy's comments about "Harris Burdick.." by Chris Van Allsburg. These are wonderful, magical, mysterious and thought provoking illustrations. I used them many times as writing prompts either in class or in creative writing contests at my former school.
Bobbi W.
Thank you Bobbi! I do, do a thematic unit on culture. It is not as well developed as some of my others, so I really appreciate your suggestions.
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