Staff development for handmade thinking

Handmade Thinking

Student Drawingsin 21 formats

Laurence MusgroveAngelo State University

3 Main Ideas1. We want kids to read critically

2. Drawing is thinking, and drawing about what you read

leads to critical reading3. It doesn’t have to be

great art, just great thinking

They are in response to a variety of reading assignments, including MAUS, Scott McCloud’s

Understanding Comics, John Gage’s The Shape of Reason, and selections from American Earth:

Environmental Writing Since Thoreau and from The Oxford Book of American Short Stories.

2 Things New1. This can be done in ALL grades

and subjects2. Giving students focused drawing parameters drastically

increases Bloom’s!

How it WorksAnd What it Looks Like….

Guidelines for Handmade Responses

1. Using one of the 21 visual formats, respond to argument or narrative of reading assignment

2. White paper—landscape format3. Three colors—black may be one of those colors4. Combination of words and images5. On reverse: Name of selected format(s)6. Corresponding citation from text with page #

***No apologies for drawing skills***

Teaching Handmade Thinking as a Process

1. Introduce visual and handmade thinking2. Show 21 formats and examples3. Introduce simple drawing strategies in response to “I can’t

draw!”4. Students create first handmade responses5. Individual students share format selected6. Students share in small groups7. Teacher shows exemplary student examples8. Teacher nudges students into other formats9. Small groups assigned to create new response in new

format10. Group leader presents collaborative response

What it looks like in Class

1. Students share responses with each other2. They tell each other what they liked best about

drawings3. They tell whole class which format they selected4. They are offered opportunity to share to whole

class—display on overhead5. They are assigned question or activity related to

reading assignment6. When evaluating handmade responses—use best

examples from previous class

COMING UP….STUDENT EXAMPLES OF:

PORTRAIT

COMING UP….STUDENT EXAMPLES OF:

MAP

COMING UP….STUDENT EXAMPLES OF:

COMIC

COMING UP….STUDENT EXAMPLES OF:

COMPARE/CONTRAST

COMING UP….STUDENT EXAMPLES OF:

VENN (2.0)

COMING UP….STUDENT EXAMPLES OF:

SEESAW

COMING UP….STUDENT EXAMPLES OF:

SCALE

COMING UP….STUDENT EXAMPLES OF:

TREE

COMING UP….STUDENT EXAMPLES OF:

WEB

COMING UP….STUDENT EXAMPLES OF:

ORGANIZATIONAL CHART

COMING UP….STUDENT EXAMPLES OF:

GENEALOGICAL CHART

COMING UP….STUDENT EXAMPLES OF:

BAR GRAPH

COMING UP….STUDENT EXAMPLES OF:

PIE CHART

COMING UP….STUDENT EXAMPLES OF:

MULTIVARIABLE CHART

COMING UP….STUDENT EXAMPLES OF:

TIMELINE

COMING UP….STUDENT EXAMPLES OF:

BEFORE & AFTER

COMING UP….STUDENT EXAMPLES OF:

EQUATION

COMING UP….STUDENT EXAMPLES OF:

FLOW CHART

COMING UP….STUDENT EXAMPLES OF:

FREYTAG’S PYRAMID PLOT LINE

COMING UP….STUDENT EXAMPLES OF:

+/- PLOT LINE

COMING UP….STUDENT EXAMPLES OF:

LAYERS

Application #1Tone & Mood Lesson

Using Handmade Thinking

Mood is…..happy, cheery, celebratory, exciting

MRS. KNIGHT’S EXAMPLE

EQUATION

COMPARE/CONTRAST

MRS. KNIGHT’S EXAMPLE

Format Choices for Mood/ToneMay 3, 2013

Application #2Theme Lesson

Using Handmade Thinking

POEM: See it Throughby STACEY

When you’re up against a troubleMeet it squarely, face to face;

Lift your chin and set your shoulders,Plant your feet and take a brace.When it’s vain to try to dodge it,

Do the best that you can do;You may fail, but you may conquer,

See it through!Black may be the clouds about you

And your future may seem grim,But don’t let your nerve desert you;

Keep yourself in fighting trim.If the worst is bound to happen,

Spite of all that you can do,Running from it will not save you,

See it through!Even hope may seem but futile,

When with troubles you’re beset,But remember you are facing

Just what other men have met.You may fail, but fall still fighting;Don’t give up, whate’er you do;

Eyes front, head high to the finish.See it through!

Assignment: 1. Using this poem and your knowledge about Hatchet from

your reading class to formulate a theme that the two have in

common.2. Generate a Handmade Thinking

Product depicting the theme3. Use a text quote from the book or

the poem to accompany your Handmade Thinking Product.

4. You may use any of the formats, so take a minute to evaluate the 21 Handmade Thinking Products to

determine which one best fits your needs.

5. If time permits, at the end of class you will share your product with a

partner, explain your reasoning and defend your theme.

For more on handmade thinking, visit www.handmadethinking.com.