A couple of weeks ago, my students took their first unit reading test online.  I do like how the online testing tells results very quickly. So, I took advantage of this and discovered a long list of reading skills my students are lacking as a whole. They are: Main idea and detail, sequence, generalization, drawing conclusions, compare and contrast and author’s purpose.  I have to admit, sometimes I feel as thought I assume too much.  I assume that my students have a good handle on these skills.  And while it is true that one or two students may not have been able to show their understanding on a specific test question, it’s my job to make sure they can.

The connection I made right away is how all these skills are teachable through the arts.  Luckily my class was due for another Studio Day and I figured I’d take advantage of one of my go to resources for building reading skills and strategies – Norman Rockwell!

Yep, you read that right.  As far as I’m concerned if you have a deficit in reading skills, turn to Norman Rockwell!  There is so much you can do with a Norman Rockwell painting (or other well selected painting or photo) that directly relates to many of the skills mentioned above, plus many others.  My ebook, Integrating the Works of Norman Rockwell into Reading Instruction explains many of them from deciphering fact and opinion to making predictions.

The entire Studio Day was centered around observing works by Rockwell, commenting on what we saw – facts only and then what we inferred from our observations.  For example in The Coin Toss, students slowed down the rapid process of drawing the conclusion that the painting was of a football game, by taking the time to note the details in the image that led them to that idea.  Bringing that to light and making them think it through was a step toward them learning about their own learning.

It was also in these initial painting observations that I was able to tie in the idea of author’s purpose, but in this case, artist’s purpose.  We discussed how some of Rockwell’s paintings were to entertain, but others were to inform (such as in his painting of Ruby Bridge’s in The Problem We All Live in) or to express an idea (such as in his Four Freedoms series.)

Most of the studio time was spent creating a collection of tableaus inspired by Rockwell’s painting called “Swatter’s Rights“.  The small groups really got into studying the painting as they discussed which part each of the six students would play.  Students portrayed everything from the old man and the boy, to the cat, fly and bucket of apples.  They froze themselves into a reenactment of the picture and while in pose, I asked them questions.  “How do you feel?”  “What are you doing?”  This allowed the students to dive deep into a character analysis before even putting a pencil to paper.  The actors were then asked to create the scene before and then after this, each in tableau.  Throughout the process we discussed the cause and effect the groups needed to discuss and how they also needed to make predictions to create the third scene.  By the end, we had created an entire story sequence: beginning, middle and end, through visual art and drama.  And we were able to compare and contrast the three groups’ interpretations of the painting through tableau.  (For more ideas on integrating the works of Norman Rockwell, check out my ebook.)

It was a powerful thing to watch these students discuss the reading strategies as well as live them with their entire bodies.  They acted out cause and effect, collectively made predictions and lived the entire sequence of events.

Now I know that doing these exercises are not going to make them avid readers overnight, or get them to ace the next reading test.  BUT, when we discuss these strategies in class and in small reading groups, I will be able to pull from rich experiences they have had with these skills.  They will remember getting hit with a mock fly swatter and reacting.  They will remember creating their own complete version of a story in sequence.  They will remember how they needed to discuss their ideas with group members to come up with one collaborative prediction.

And it’s my hope that this will help them to truly become better better readers.

~EMP

Look for more about Studio Days in Elizabeth’s upcoming book – Studio Days due out in April of 2012. To be kept up to date on the publication of this book and ebook, email studiodays@TheInspiredClassroom.com

There is so much you can do with a Norman Rockwell painting (or other well selected painting or photo) that directly relates to many reading skills.  My ebook, Integrating the Works of Norman Rockwell into Reading Instruction explains more and gives activities to teach many of them including drawing conclusions, deciphering fact and opinion and making predictions.

Related posts:

1. Norman Rockwell – End Notes
2. Norman Rockwell – Activity 4 Drawing Conclusions
3. Protected: Norman Rockwell – Activity 3 Storytelling

Last night I had the honor of guest moderating #ntchat (New Teacher Chat) with Lisa Dabbs (@teachingwthsoul). It was so much fun! What a great way to end my summer and it also have me a chance to refocus myself on the importance of arts integration! (Which is the blog series topic for next month.)

While chatting, I was sharing ideas with some great teachers – both new and veteran, for how to start the school year with a sense of creativity, so that students know you are accepting of all their talents and interests, want to help them cultivate them and learn from them.  The range was from theory to practical applications.

Here are some highlights I am pondering for my teaching:

• Listen to music together.
• Have students walk in to their classroom where on their desk is a blank sheet of paper (like when in restaurants the tablecloths are paper and there is a bucket of crayons.)
• Use the arts to create community.
• Use music and art to teach history.
• Bringing drama and movement into my classroom more.

So as you transition into this new school year, keep the arts in mind. Be sure to check out our resources and especially my new FREE ebook: Integrating the Works of Norman Rockwell into Reading Instruction. (Find this under the Books tab.)

Also, please check out the archive of our chat from last night! #ntchat Aug 25, 2010 “Arts Integration”

Related posts:

1. Arts Integration PLC
2. Results of the Teacher Survey in Arts Integration
3. The Values of the Arts

This is part of the Norman Rockwell integration blog series. To gain access to all the blogs in this series, click the tag “Norman Rockwell”.

Doing this blog series, showed me the possibilities of Norman Rockwell’s paintings. The expanse of Rockwell’s works seem limitless – what an amazing collection of masterpieces. They always entertain and always bring emotion to me. I smile, I smirk, I swell up with tears. Each painting has its own story and everyone can find their own collection of Rockwells that truly speak to them.

It is my hope that other teachers will continue to try some of these ideas out and also share their experiences and ideas. For the complete blog series, click the “Norman Rockwell” tab.

So, look out for old calendars, prints and resources online and create displays so that students can enjoy a piece of Americana while learning!

There is so much you can do with a Norman Rockwell painting (or other well selected painting or photo) that directly relates to many reading skills.  My ebook, Integrating the Works of Norman Rockwell into Reading Instruction explains more and gives activities to teach many of them including drawing conclusions, deciphering fact and opinion and making predictions.

Related posts:

1. Norman Rockwell – Activity 4 Drawing Conclusions
2. Norman Rockwell – Introducing Rockwell into Your Classroom
3. Protected: Norman Rockwell – Activity 1 Parts of Speech

Related posts:

1. Norman Rockwell – Activity 4 Drawing Conclusions
2. Norman Rockwell – Introducing Rockwell into Your Classroom
3. Norman Rockwell – Inspiring in the Classroom

Related posts:

1. Norman Rockwell – Activity 4 Drawing Conclusions
2. Norman Rockwell – Introducing Rockwell into Your Classroom
3. Norman Rockwell – Inspiring in the Classroom

It is fortunate that the blog series this month has been centered around the visual art of Norman Rockwell since it has coincided with our teacher field trip to a most wonderful museum inBoston– theIsabellaStewartGardnerMuseum.Though none of his works are in this museum, the ideas of viewing, appreciating and enjoying art seems to be the main focus within the museum as well as the basis for all the Rockwell activities in this series.Another thing to point out is that all the activities found in the series can be adapted to ANY piece of work – for it is in looking closely at and studying visual pieces, be they paintings, sculptures or pictures, you can become more observant, more thoughtful and more gratified in your experience.

The trip to the museum was wonderful, but this blog is not about that, instead it is meant to be about our own interpretations of art.Quite frankly, the best part about Gardner’s museum is that the emphasis is not on art history or the artists, it is on us – the public, the viewers and appreciators of art.We are there to enjoy, experience and interpret in our own ways.This is the most unique part about art, all art.There is an artist and there is the receiver of the art.We all bring to art our own experiences and interpret what we see and hear in different ways than those around us.

And that is OKAY!

Yes, there is a story behind every piece of artwork, but that story is not the same for all those who experience the art.And the story the artist envisions is simply not exactly or consistently what we receive.It is in these personal interpretations that we can deepen our own thinking and, if experienced with others, can create a new community among people as we share a piece of art.There is a story in the piece, but it’s ok if you don’t get it.Just the experience itself, if you give yourself the chance to have it, is enough.It is much more about looking, observing and making connections.

So, how can this be applied to us in our teaching?Allow yourself to be a receiver of art and share that with your children and students.Encourage searching in a piece, encourage observations and questions.Through these observations, allow students to draw conclusions and make predictions, and question some more.These are real life strategies and they can be practiced and refined through the arts!

There is so much you can do with a Norman Rockwell painting (or other well selected painting or photo) that directly relates to many reading skills.  My ebook, Integrating the Works of Norman Rockwell into Reading Instruction explains more and gives activities to teach many of them including drawing conclusions, deciphering fact and opinion and making predictions.

Click one of the tags from this post to find related posts.