Books Without Words: using wordless picture books to stimulate young highly able readers

Dr Margaret Sutherland FRSA margaret.sutherland@glasgow.ac.uk

•  The understanding of the meaning of visual images around us

•  21 century children – possess rich understanding of visual imagery

•  Moving images and still images •  Becoming visually literate •  Storytakers and storymakers construct meaning

(Crawford and Hyde, 2000) •  Reading is a meaning making experience

Why visual images?

•  Develop vocabulary and language skills

•  Develop creativity and story telling skills

•  Encourage book usage skills

Wordless Picture Books

•  Narrative structure •  Distinct setting •  A plot

Features of a good wordless picture book

•  Model how the picture tells a story

•  Coach and collaborator •  Observe •  Listen •  Interact •  Prompt

Role of the teacher

•  Use of dialogue •  Setting development •  Character descriptions •  Sequencing of events •  Story development

Skills Development

•  Detecting sequence •  Identifying details •  Noting cause and effect

relationships •  Making judgements •  Determining main ideas •  Making inferences

Skills Development

•  https://movingimageeducation.org/browse-films/films/little-dinosaurs

•  Lindauer (1988) “we need to learn in safe and supportive situations”

•  Chalk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WhedoN6kHfc

Questions of Childhood List adapted from Roedel, W.C., Jackson, N.W. and Robinson, H.B. (1980)

“First they make you button your own shirt, then they make you tie your own shoes….you gotta ask yourself….where’s this all heading?”

Richmond Park School

The ‘E’ approach •  Expect •  Enhance and enrich •  Extend •  Empower •  Excite •  Enjoy