Introduction to Picturing Writing

The foundational Time of Day Unit introduces teachers and students to Artists/Writers Workshop. It teaches the crayon resist art process and how to read pictures to access detail and description. Students come to understand the importance of word choice. They learn how to “make magic” by selecting just the right words (active verbs) to make their paintings appear to come alive. The Time of Day Unit can also serve as a precursor to narrative writing. It teaches students how to develop a sense of setting, how to paint pictures in the reader’s mind, and that when you turn the pages of a book, time passes. As students engage authentically with language and learn how to make their paintings come to life, they also learn the purpose of different parts of speech in ways that are meaningful.

The PW Weather Poetry Workshop offers a variety of poetry formats—from very simple to more complex— the language for which is generated from reading the paintings students create.

Both these genre units can be can be used across the content areas. These newly updated units also include opportunities for informational writing and opinion writing (on the About the Artist/Writer Page). These introductory PW units lay the groundwork for more sophisticated Picturing Writing units to follow. Workshops may be taken separately or combined for a reduced rate.

Picturing Writing is an innovative, evidence-based approach to teaching writing designed to meet the needs of a wide range of learners. This highly scaffolded, multimodal approach gives students access to visual as well as verbal tools for developing and recording their ideas. Because pictures offer a universal language, Picturing Writing allows students to enter the reading/writing process from a position of strength and enthusiasm. It provides an enticing, alternative pathway into writing for English Learners and others who struggle with reading and writing.

No previous art experience necessary!