Often we get asked from teachers if we use wordless books in our classrooms. The answer is "Yes, all the time. Reading wordless books are not the easiest to read and can often be very intimidating and sometimes awkward. But a wordless book will engage children in comprehension, critical thinking, and storytelling. Using wordless books also enhances the development of the understanding the elements of story structures. Like, characters, setting, plot, etc. It will also increase vocabulary and verbal skills.
Just keep in mind there is no wrong or right way to read a wordless books aloud to your classroom. Just remember it is a great activity and opportunity to invent your own storyline, name the characters, and create the dialogue altogether as a class. Pretty powerful things happen when you get to co-author a book when you have a wordless picture book in your hands. Another great way to get kids hooked on books.
Some Tips For Reading Wordless Books
Look at the front and back cover to find clues to make predictions about the story you are going to read to the class.
Describe details and point those out in the pictures as you go while connecting them with descriptive words.
Ask questions
What is happening?
What is the emotions of the characters?
What do you think the characters are saying? What conversations are happening?
Does there seem to be a problem?
Where is the story taking place at? What time of day is it? Season?
What will happen next? How do you know that?
Students will ask many questions as you go. Make sure to take the time to answer those questions as a group. Often they come up with an idea about the storyline that you might of not even thought about.
Use can use wordless books for a story starter to a writing activity. With young learners, you can start with a writing activity like retelling the story or creating speech bubbles of the dialogue between characters. It is important to only use one page from the book in the early grades. Older students you could give each student a page to write the storyline together as a class.
Support their predications and use the pictures for evidence.
Always reflect on the big idea or theme of the wordless book.
And most important have fun!
Happy Reading!
Heidi and Michelle
Reference, Resources, and Wordless Book Links
Reading from the Wordless: A Case Study on the Use of Wordless Picture Books, Marina Mohd Arif (Corresponding author)
Children's Library Lady - Article Link - "7 Reasons Why Wordless Picture Books are so Powerful"
Chalk by Bill Thomas - Purchase Link
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