If you are reading this it’s probably because you’re wondering what the heck it is we do for 75 minutes in “that class.” How can anyone take a reluctant writer and turn them into someone who
loooooves writing in the course of a few weeks? Well, I’ll tell you how
I do it.
In “Art and the Writing Process” we value the language of pictures. So we start with the fun part first! The critical elements of a story—setting, mood, characters, problem, solution, and ending—can be communicated through pictures. The writing comes afterward.
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| Sometimes, it's good to play with sticks! |
The children use their pictures to develop, express, and record their stories. A lush picture invites children to expand their vocabularies by inspiring them to search for the precise words that best describe its details and description. Brainstorming with fellow writers, they help one another generate a group word bank of
their words. Their drawings and writing are supported by the interpersonal relationships formed in the class. Students write for the audience of their classmates and are eager to hear what others have written. There are many opportunities for students to ask questions, provide feedback, and learn from each other.
Aside from this, we have absolutely no respect for punctuation, capitalization, spelling, or handwriting. Anything goes, so long as they’re writing—as artists, not editors! Just like in the real world, with real authors--that’s someone else's job. (In this case, mine!) Their job is to paint pictures with words.
Is anyone else using art to enrich or improve writing? I'd love to hear from you.
