YES! It is important for children’s literacy. Wordless picture books are related to visual literacy and it helps children develop their oral language and in writing skills. As children have wordless picture books, they can learn more vocabulary, useful sentences, fluency on writing, and story-telling skills. Not only children’s prediction skill will be developed but also they will be easily interested in reading wordless book. The reason they will enjoy reading the books is there is no limitation or stated stories so children can make any stories whatever they want. Students sometimes struggle with finding ideas or topic for writing or storytelling. Wordless picture books are will be really good for every child such as language beginner, ESL students, child with special needs, and even language competent children.
Tuesday by David Wiesner
Flotsam by David Wiesner
The Snowman by Raymond Briggs
All in a Day by Mitsumasa Anno
For some activities for wordless picture books, teachers can ask comprehension and critical thinking questions, for examples, where, who, what, how, and why. Children also should be taught grammatical structure such as using the past, the plural, and so on. Having students find all the words that begin with a particular sound will be good for reviewing phonic. Having a lesson for synonyms and antonyms is also a good activity. Lastly, practicing putting sentences in the correct order will enhance children’s sequencing skills.
Teachers also have some important roles for children to have wordless picture books. They can set up recording area so children can check and develop their oral language skills. Sharing stories with other classmates or parents can encourage children to be proud of themselves and also other classmates will learn various interpretations of the stories. Finally, teachers should forget to give a lot of praises and attentions to children.
Children can use books to create their own stories. When using a wordless picture book children are free to explore their thoughts and ideas about what they are seeing. This is a fun engaging literacy experience.
ReplyDeleteI love your point about wordless picture books being useful for all children, and I think it would be a great classroom idea to use wordless books for English language learners, and the other children you mentioned. Wordless books allow children to read at their own pace, in their own style. Teachers can use this to their advantage and individualize their reading of wordless books to fit the needs of specific students.
ReplyDeleteThis is wonderful! Besides the fact that Tuesday is one of my most favorite books, your encouragement to use wordless picture books is great. Wordless picture books open the door for beautiful and honest conversations. Children can read these books as fast, or slow as they'd like. It can be a great bonding experience for a child and a teacher or parent. Great suggestion!
ReplyDeleteWordless picture books have so many positives for all ages of children in the classroom. It allows for all levels of students to interact with the book from those who do not yet know how to read to those who are beginning to write their own essays and papers. Wordless books can be used in a number of different ways and the lesson plans that can be created using them is endless.
ReplyDeleteI have recently used wordless picture books with the children in my field experience classroom, and I have to say I completely agree with you! They are great! It is amazing to let the children tell their own stories without "staying within the box" of what the "real story" says.
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