Do I have to draw you a picture?
Wednesday, April 18th by carlaI discovered the power of graphic organizers when I was reading a tricky passage in Edith Wharton’s novella, Summer. The protagonist, Charity Royall, travels up a mountain, and I knew I was missing something in the imagery. I read it a second time. A third. In the background a voice came from a TV program, asking sarcastically, “Do I have to draw you picture?”
“Draw a picture,” I thought. “That might help.” A few stick figures later, I realized I was looking at a circle. Charity’s journey suddenly made much more sense. And when I used it in class, eyes popped as kids “got it,” too.
Since then I have drawn pictures to explain concepts like the difference between Rationalists and Romantics (we draw their gardens) and the difference between traditional Christian belief and Transcendentalism. (Colored chalk helps with that second one.)
Stick-figure sketches and graphic organizers adapt themselves well to the language arts classroom. We’ve come a long way from Venn diagrams. Today’s graphic organizers include timelines, cause-and-effect relationships, and KWL charts. All students, not just visual learners, can benefit from a well chosen diagram.
One online tool that helps teachers with graphic organizers is found at Teachnology. Scroll down on the page to find a variety of free generators that either you or your students can use.
We’re never too old to use a tool that helps us understand what we’re reading. Yes, draw me a picture.
April 23rd, 2007 at 1:27 pm
Carla,
I really like this concept. In fact I would love to know more about your Rationalists and Romantics garden and the drawing for transcendentalism if you don’t mind sharing!
April 23rd, 2007 at 3:36 pm
Thanks for your comment, Renee!
When I draw the Rationalist garden, I emphasize that they liked things organized and symmetrical. We put a fountain in the center and draw carefully arranged beds of tulips, daffodils, and roses. A gate in the north wall must be balanced with a gate in the south wall, etc.
The Romantics, on the other hand, took delight in breaking the rules. They also had respect for ordinary, common people. When we draw their garden, we leave the fountain in the center, though we might change the statuary. We rip out the careful beds, and we plant lots of wildflowers. We also tear down the walls, since Romantics would not want to barricade Nature.
Students can see that both gardens are beautiful; they are just beautiful in different ways. Then we can draw the parallel that both artistic philosphies have strengths, just in different areas.