A r c h i v e d  I n f o r m a t i o n

Audience While approved by PEP for students in grades 1-2, this program has been successfully implemented in grades 1-6.

Description Image-Making Within the Writing Process operates in the classroom as a part of the language arts program. Recognizing individual learning styles, the program defines all children as author/illustrators and draws young writers into a rich creative process using word and picture images to create outstanding published books. Children employ reading, writing, and oral language skills necessary to the development of literacy, gain access to visual and kinesthetic modes of thinking which serve to heighten their conceptualization process, and engage in higher level problem-formulating and problem-solving activities.

Through a series of process-oriented art activities, each child begins by creating a portfolio of hand-painted textured papers. These textured papers are used by the class to brainstorm "describing words" as well as to spark story ideas through free association. As children's imaginations are awakened, discovered creatures and settings become rich resources for imaginative stories. Children find stories hidden in their textured papers. When it is time for the children to begin the process of putting ideas down on paper, they are purposely not directed toward either writing first or making pictures first. Because verbal as well as visual modes of thinking are equally valued, young author/illustrators are given the license to follow their own creative process in story-making. In this way, they approach writing from a position of personal strength and enthusiasm.

Textured papers then become the raw materials for building colorful collage images. As children weave together story images in pictures and words, stories unfold through a lively interactive creative process. As stories evolve, children are taught how to "read" their collage images in order to increase descriptive detail and literary language in their writing. Collage images also provide a concrete tool for revision. As a result, completed published books are highly evolved in story line, descriptive language, and visual expression.

Evidence of Effectiveness Findings based on analytic scoring of writing samples demonstrate that participating students increase their academic achievement in writing, particularly in the areas of plot development, descriptive language, and overall imagination, and enhance their ability to express their ideas through the interweaving of word and picture images as compared to nonparticipating students.

Requirements Two-day and day-and-a-half trainings are available. A one-week lab school is available through the University of New Hampshire's Laboratory for Interactive Learning during the summer for teachers who would like more extensive training.

Costs An on-site two-day training (which can also be reorganized to fit into a day-and-a-half format) is available for a $700 consultant fee and a $45 per participant materials fee. The materials fee covers all the art materials used at the training and instructional materials to be used in the classroom. Complete classroom implementation packages (art materials for 25 students) valued at $180 are available for $120. Mini-kits of hard-to-find items, valued at $105, are available for $65. Custom-designed multi-classroom kits are also available to reduce costs.

Services In addition to training and curriculum materials, awareness presentations, an instructional videotape, and follow-up consultations are available.

Contact

Beth Olshansky, The Laboratory for Interactive Learning, University of New Hampshire, Hood House, 89 Main Street, Durham, NH 03824-3577. (603) 659-6018 or 862-3691.

Developmental Funding: Local, state, and numerous grants from private foundations.
PEP No. 93-11 (3/26/93)

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[Exemplary Center for Reading Instruction (ECRI)]

[Junior Great Books Curriculum, The (JGBC)]