Drawing Leads to Reading

Early childhood teachers have learned that drawing leads to early writing skills. When a child begins to scribble, writing skills follow in a natural progression as the child becomes more proficient in holding a crayon, pencil, or marker. Drawing can also lead to early reading skills.

A great method for incorporating drawing with learning early reading skills is the process of webbing. Teachers introduce a letter of the alphabet. A favorite book is chosen that has the letter of the alphabet in the title of the book. After reading the book at storytime or in a small group for reading instruction, present the children with the concept of webbing. The teacher draws a large circle with spokes leading from the large circle -a good choice is to draw 4 spokes with smaller circles at the end. Write the alphabet letter in the large circle. The children draw pictures from the story that begin with the letter of the alphabet. Don't worry about perfection. Children's drawings represent what they say that they represent. An example of this is for the Letter B. Have the children find a picture from the story that begins with the letter B and draw it in one of the circles on the web.

After a second reading of the story, present another web with which there are comprehensive questions about details of the story. Present 4 spokes on the web with a question. Have the children draw a picture that answers the question presented. An example from the book If You Give A Mouse A Cookie is to ask the question of sequencing the articles that the mouse asked for. Have the children draw the items in the spokes of their web. This drawing activity teaches the early reading skill of learning to sequence a story.

There are many ways in which a teacher can use webbing and drawing to teach early reading skills. Creativity is a necessary ingredient for using webbing to teach early reading skills. Other skills that can be introduced in webbing and drawing a story are finding details in a story, phonics when the sound of a letter is being taught, and creating different endings for a story when the children are asked to draw a few ideas about how they would like the story to end.

Drawing a story can be used in a reading class can inspire chidlren to read for a variety of reasons. The earlier that this skill is introduced, the more successful later reading skills can be mastered.

School budgets are stretched each year to include the basics that our students need and cuts to art classes are always the first to go when the budget is cut. Many schools make an attempt to keep art classes in the curriculum. Sometimes a classroom teacher is responsible for teaching art in a regular day's schedule because there are no art specialists employed in the school. Teachers have access to books and tools that can help with art and drawing instruction. Usher Morgan and its Library Tales Publishing group have published Catherine V. Holmes' creative book "How to Draw Cool Stuff: A Drawing Guide for Teachers and Students" that can be added to a classroom curriculum in order to help and inspire students to begin drawing.

"How to Draw Cool Stuff: A Drawing Guide for Teachers and Students" contains a wealth of illustrations that students and even young children can follow in order to create awesome drawings. Hands-on activities teach the basics of drawing with instructions about line, shape, and space when drawing. Both students and teachers will enjoy using this creative publication to learn to draw. Author Catherine Holmes includes activities that train the brain to see objects in our everyday world as a source of art. Faces, holiday themes, seasonal objects, animals, and even cartoon characters are included with step-by-step instructions for drawing. Holmes includes tips for teachers to be used in instruction. This instructional art book is suitable for all ages.

"How to Draw Cool Stuff: A Drawing Guide for Teachers and Students" was published by Usher Morgan Library Tales Publishing Group and has an ISBN of 978-0615991429.

Catherine V. Holmes is a traveling art teacher . She created her book "How to Draw Cool Stuff: A Drawing Guide for Teachers and Students" out of necessity. She writes in her introduction that she was unable to find resources that she could carry around with her from school to school. She wanted to create a resource for art instructors who were in the same situation as traveling art instructors. All of her projects are instructor-friendly and fancy materials are not needed. Teachers who have a limited budget for their classes will enjoy this resource.