Visual Thinking Strategies has been around for many years. The small group interaction that it encourages is a terrific thing. I have used this method with my English Language Arts classes and didn't even realize it. I was using the Literacy Shed to show a visual (sometimes animated story) prompt. The student would start his/her writing piece with this prompt. I did find a website that does something similar utilizing a visual prompt that the student then glues into his/her writing journal. That way, the student has a library of prompts to refer to for future compositions of his own. The difference between what I was doing and what I will do in the future, is the question/answer dialogue that VTS is built on. The website is
https://www.colorincolorado.org/article/visual-thinking-strategies-improved-comprehension.
It shows how easily VTS can be implemented into so many subjects. I will do some research as to the copyright laws to place visuals of random photos and great art works in a student's journal. Perhaps each class will have book that a different student each time takes notes or a screenshot of the collaboration of insights that we compile. It would be terrific if this process could be done in demonstration to parents and other classroom teachers. A great place for growth in every classroom.
Locked
