Adobe Voice gives “Voice” to Narrative or Expository Language
It’s Technology Tuesday, and this month we will cover a simple, free tool to practice combining visuals and oral narration to produce an engaging video! A main goal of using MindWing’s Story Grammar Marker® and ThemeMaker® tools is to provide structure for oral discourse. Narrative or expository maps provide a “plan” for the elements of discourse, along with key words to help students connect their thoughts when formulating a story or explanation. In this way, a culminating activity of using any language map can involve asking students to “connect the dots” in formulating a complete story or using expository language. Adobe Voice, a free, easy-to-use app, provides a fast and motivating way to do this!...
Writing: Expository/Informational Descriptive Map to Paragraphs
Today, we will look at some writing samples using the topic of Koalas and ideas to scaffold the process from using the Character Descriptive Map to paragraphs. As stated previously, any book/resource that you use may be adapted to these activities.
We used several resources including:
We followed the same procedure as in the Armadillo and Cheetah lessons: reading short segments, making a list of facts, and placing each fact in the correct category (physical appearance, habitat, food and eating, young, special characteristics)...
Teaching SGM® Components — continued 2
Back by popular demand: Use this new story to review the SGM components in a group or to sharpen student awareness of narrative structure.
- Read the story below to the child. (download printed version).
- Review the SGM® components on the SGM® Teacher Marker.
- Have the students draw or stamp the icons above the correct SGM® component. Note that the story is a complete episode, the first paragraph having the character, setting, initiating event, feeling and plan stated; the second paragraph containing all the planned attempts to carry out the plan; and the last paragraph having the direct consequence (tie-up) and resolution (feeling about how the story ended). We have found it helpful to go paragraph by paragraph. (See completed version)
- Using the Teacher Marker, model retelling the story to the children.
- After the activity is completed, have the student(s) work with a partner, Turn and Talk, and use his/her SGM® Student Marker to retell the story.
Create Visual “Explanimations” to go with your Expository Lessons
On this Technology Tuesday, our monthly post in which we describe a simple technology resource that can be useful in integrating MindWing’s tools in your work, I wanted to align with recent posts describing resources for expository language, specifically listing and describing. As these posts describe, almost any text can be used as a context for analyzing expository language (see also the many engaging expository texts in the EPIC! app). In addition to Thememaker® expository language maps, a number of apps serve as a “blank slate” for you to create a short-or more extensive—activity targeting these language structures.
Teaching SGM® Components
Are you looking for a story to review the SGM® components in a group or to sharpen student awareness of narrative structure?
1. Read the story below to the child (download printed version).
2. Review the SGM® components on your Teacher Marker.
3. Have the students draw or stamp the icons above the correct SGM component.
4. Have the students draw or stamp the icons above the correct SGM® component (see completed version)
5. After the activity is completed, have the student work with a partner, Turn and Talk, and use his/her SGM® Student Marker to retell the story...
Foldables and Stamps Activity
Creating foldables is one way to make reinforcing the SGM icons an enjoyable experience. Using a flipbook and our Icon STAMPede Stamp Activity Set is a versatile way to engage students. There are a variety of flip book ideas online which may be adapted to this activity and the stamps make it easy for students themselves to create their own booklets during centers.
The Basic Flip Book/STAMPede activity…
- Decide which icons you would like students to work on… this will vary by what you want to reinforce with your students
- Place as many sheets of paper as needed, one on top of the other...