Handmade Thinking: Drawing Out Reading

Dr. Laurence MusgroveEnglish and Modern Languages

Angelo State University

www.laurencemusgrove.com

@lemusgro #handmadethinking

“In fact, without visualization, students cannot comprehend, and reading cannot be said to be reading.”

Reading is Seeing, Jeffrey Wilhelm

My Contract: $100

1. Feed me2. Let me sleep on your couch3. I’ll sell and sign some books

Z Z Z

Boring!

?

Me !

Me !

WHY?

Drawing with guided practice and choice in visual formats can increase

reading engagement, comprehension, as well as collaborative problem-

solving and critical thinking.

Drawing is Thinking

• The hand focuses the mind and body• Focus = engagement = presence = mindfulness

Handmade Thinking as Engagement

• Physical, emotional, mental engagement strategy made possible by drawing responses to literary and non-literary texts

• Reading = presence

Introduction to Drawing

People

Places

Things

Twos

Family

Amount

Action

GUIDELINES FOR HANDMADE RESPONSES

1. Using one of the 21 visual formats, respond to argument or

narrative of reading assignment

2. White paper – landscape format

3. Three colors – black may be one of those colors

4. Combination of words and images

5. On reverse: name of selected format(s)

6. Corresponding citation from text with page number

OK, Let’s read and draw.

HANDMADE RESPONSES IN CLASS

1. Students share responses with each other

2. They tell each other what they liked best about drawings

3. They tell whole class which format they selected

4. They are offered opportunity to share to whole class –

displayed on overhead

5. They are assigned question or activity related to reading

assignment

6. When evaluating handmade responses, I select best drawings

for display at beginning of the next class

OK, Let’s read and draw together.

Teaching Handmade Thinking as a Process

1. Introduce visual and handmade thinking2. Show 21 formats and examples3. Introduce simple drawing strategies in response to

“I can’t draw!”4. Students create first handmade responses5. Individual students share format selected 6. Students share in small groups 7. Teacher shows exemplary student examples8. Teacher nudges students into other formats9. Small groups assigned to create new response in

new format10. Group leader presents collaborative response

TAKE AWAY

Drawing with guided practice and choice in visual formats can increase

reading engagement, comprehension, as well as collaborative problem-

solving and critical thinking.

Handmade Thinking: Drawing Out Reading

Dr. Laurence MusgroveEnglish and Modern Languages

Angelo State University

www.laurencemusgrove.com

@lemusgro #handmadethinking