Chapter 4Communication, Expression, and Experience: Literacy and

the Arts

By Terrah JohnsonSelina Black Mary Proctor

How can the Arts be fundamental to becoming literate?

How does using the Arts provide an effective

methodology for acquiring reading, writing,

comprehension, and communication skills?

The Arts Can Provide a Common Language for Students with “Word” Language Barriers.

It provides freedom of expression for second language learners.

This freedom of expression allows for collaborative learning amongst students.

The Arts Provide the Means for Children to Represent Images and Ideas.

It can be achieved through dramatic play which helps with the

development of language which sets the stage for creative language and

symbolic development.

Learning With and Through the ArtsThis includes teaching cursive writing through

movement, and spelling and vocabulary through drawing picto-spelling.

Literacy and Story Comprehension With and Through Arts

The first step in this process is to introducing students to quality poetry and literature.

The second step is to allow the students the time to examine paintings or sculptures.

The third step is allow time for the students to create a story, poem, or dance about their observations.

The fourth step is to enjoy .

http://youtu.be/WkBepgH00GM

Playing With WordsObtain English Language Acquisition through

English Poetry in

three easy steps.

Introduce PoetryFirst Step

Ask the students to describe what they think poetry is.

Ask students if they have ever written, read, or remembered any poetry.

Read some popular poems out loud to students.

Common TopicSecond Step

Focus on one topic that is familiar to everyone in one form or another. For example ~ “family”Group students to brainstorm on words in English

relating to family and write them on the board. Have students come up with their own list of

words that relate to families.

Creating their own PoemThird Step

An example of the words written on the board would be: grandma, grandpa, brother, sister, aunt , niece, dad, mom. Using this list of words have the students write their own “word poem.”Student poem example –

Caring grandma, grandpamom, dad, aunt, uncle, cousin, niece, nephew,sister, brother, baby

A Step FurtherUsing the same familiar topic, “family,” ask

the students to write a simile about one of their family members.

Student simile example: My brothers are like spider

webs• From this simile the students brainstormed a

different set of words. Words like sticky, cockroach and tarantula.

• Using this set of words the students created another poem.

Additional MethodsJOURNALING

Students kept poetry journals.

Journals included poems they composed and poems they found.

Students were able to write in their journal every

morning.

COPYING POEMSCopying poems helps with

spelling and grammar.Copying poems serves as

a bridge for students who are not comfortable with

their writing ability.

Key Elements Toward Writing Poetry Wordstorming- Students brainstorm words before writing

poetry as a way to get started. Modeling- Teachers model elements of the writing process

using an overhead, always clearing away model-poems quickly to avoid copying or dependence.

Editing and Revising- Spend several weeks on the same poem. Edit and revise constantly!

Publishing- Publish poetry using bulletin boards, local schools/colleges, and poetry books.

Journals- Assign poetry journals to every student!Timing- Use guided poetry writing at the same time every

week. Sharing- Share! Share! Share!

SummaryArt provides many methods for gaining

literacy skills and can support reading and writing skills.

Poetry has an especially important function with regard to literacy.

Through writing poetry, students may explore a world of words!

Lesson PlansPicto-spells (93)

Helps students visually represent spelling of vocabulary words.

Photograph Exploration and Writing (94) Uses photography as an art form to teach creative

writing. Animal Alliteration (95)

Students draw an animal in the shape of the first letter from which the animal is spelled (Example: S= Snake).

Pantomime Storytelling (96)Students model characters’ emotions and actions.