When we think of the teaching tools of
2012, our minds are flooded with images and experiences of new and upcoming
technology. We have SMART Boards, Elmo Document Cameras, Laptops, iPads,
Assistive Technology, and countless web based programs to engage students in
learning. Don’t get me wrong, I am forever in debt to the creators of these
technologies and thankful to have most of them in my classroom. But sometimes,
you gotta glance away from the bright screens, back away slowly from the
devices, and throwback to old school simplicity.
My favorite throwback instructional tool:
Picture Books
As a teacher of 6th grade, I
can tell you this year is incredibly dynamic. In my district, it’s the first
year of middle school and a transition into a “grownup” building. Middle
school means passing time and block scheduling alongside an increase of note
taking, test taking, and homework. Yikes.
But what is unique about 6th grade is these students do not yet embody the middle school mentality, but are also transitioning out of the elementary mindset. 6th grade teachers must therefore
find a balance between increasing student responsibility and independence, while
embracing reliance and innocence. And what better way to do this then to
incorporate a familiar teaching tool, adapted at a middle school level?
Here are the top 6 reasons why I
believe picture books are particularly perfect for my 6th graders….
1.
Picture Books Remind Students of Early
Childhood
Everyone has a memory
of being read to when they were younger, whether it’s a memory from home or
school. Picture books give us that nostalgic feeling of comfort, being carefree,
and cared for. Who wouldn’t want to ignite this feeling in their students?
2.
Picture Books are Engaging
Read Alouds never go out of style, and
never get boring. Children enjoy listening to story telling; the intricate
characters, plots, and suspenseful events. Read Alouds also provide a platform
for open classroom discussion and responses.
3.
Picture Books Model Appropriate Reading
Behaviors
Read Alouds serve as a reinforcement and reminder of correct fluency and expression. They can also
be used to model active reading strategies and behaviors such as visualizing,
predicting, and making inferences.
4.
Picture Books Teach Higher Level
Concepts
Picture books are a
great way to introduce more complex topics in a simplistic format. The
storylines in picture books often allow students to make connections, build
background, activate prior knowledge, or practice higher level
strategies.
5.
Picture Books Are Visual Aids
When accompanying
words or concepts, visuals aid in understanding. The images in picture books serve
as photographic snapshots of information students will not only make meaning
from, but use to retain and apply information later.
6.
Picture Books are Motivating
In middle school,
using picture books as teaching tools becomes less and less prevalent as we
transition to novels and textbooks. This means students are excited when they
see picture books become a part of a lesson or activity. No matter how old children are, they associate
picture books with fun. Fun = Motivation.
So the next time you stumble across an
old picture book or are reminded of a story you used to love, do your students
a favor, and incorporate it into your instruction. Trust me, you won’t regret it.
Check back for my upcoming post about
my favorite picture book to use in my classroom:
A picture book is a dialogue between
two worlds: the world of images and the world of words." ~Leonard S.
Marcus, children's literature critic
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