Wednesday, June 15, 2011

In Pictures and Words, Summary of Chapter 1

Text: In Pictures and in Words by Katie Wood Ray
Chapter 1 Why Illustration Matters to the Development of Young Writers

  Most teachers of writings primary goal is for their students to become competent, effective communicators who can use text help accomplish their goals. Being an effective communicator will require more than just getting words down on paper. Katie Wood Ray wonders if there is a way to teach the more than words on paper through illustrations. She wonders what would happen if children were introduced to planning, drafting, revising and editing content in the process of composing illustrations for their books?

Picture Book Making as a Template for Playful Exploration

Making picture books is seen as a developmentally appropriate practice because children use the same exploratory spirit they use in other sorts of play. They try on the roles of writers and illustrators.
Creating meaning through illustrations helps young children become fluent with transcription. A picture book is the perfect container for the composition of beginning writers. Children are asked to make picture books to create meaning. They do not do this because they cannot yet write words they are asked to do this because writers use a variety of ways to make meaning. The picture books young students are exposed to use illustrations extensively to create meaning.
Image is a universal language making illustrating a good way for ELL students to tell their stories.
When children make books they are in a constant process of decision making.  Having choices and making decisions about them enhances a child’s development in important ways.

Different Stances to Illustrations

Teaching out of illustrations is one stance. This stance sees illustrating as a step towards words. The sketch serves the purpose of holding meaning rather than expanding the meaning of a text.
Teaching into illustrations is the other stance. Children are encouraged to spend time, use color and other media to make meaning. Illustrations are seen as a way to expand what the words say through intentional composing.
Teachers can create a bridge between these stances by showing children how an illustrators decisions about pictures are a lot like the decisions a writer makes about words. This way children are nurtured as illustrators and writers.

A Forward Looking Stance to Teaching

The future of literacy will become more complex. We cannot imagine how text will evolve in the world. Our students will be faced with text that uses much more than words and illustrations to make meaning. It is to their benefit that we as teachers help them understand a variety of ways to become effective communicators.

1 comment:

  1. Howdy!

    I love your summaries! You pretty much touch on every part of the chapter, emphasizing what was most important in the readings. Mahalo for a job well-done!

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