Jennifer Osorio

Due date: 10/13/17

Visual Tool Reflection

Prompt:

Write a reflection of the reading, a brief description of what you learned during this week, your

opinion of the tool(s) that you used, why you chose that tool, and how you would you implement

what you learned in your classroom.

Proof of knowledge and understanding is the driving force for curriculum instruction and

growth. This week the focus surrounded visual tools, and their usability in the classroom. Visual

graphics both lo-tech and high-tech have been found to further student understanding of concepts

and can lead to higher order thinking skills such as synthesis, evaluation and judgement of

topics.

The reading for this week, Non-Linguistic Representations, discussed various forms of

using visual representations to solidify linguistic knowledge. During this reading there was a

term I have never heard called dual-coding. As a bilingual teacher, I finally encountered a term

for the strategy I use on an everyday basis. Daily, I use graphic organizers, mental pictures,

pictures and kinesthetic activities in all subjects to further solidify concepts for my students. I

found this weeks reading extremely helpful. I was able to find graphic organizers and strategies

that I have used or am currently using. In addition, I found new graphic organizers to add to my

repertoire, such as the generalization/principle pattern organizer.

 Correspondingly, this weeks technological aspect went perfectly with the reading and I

was able to make supplemental materials for my current curriculums. The first tool I used this

week was Canva. Prior to creating the Canva, I created this using a poster, cut out pictures, and a

marker. As I created the digital version of my poster I truly was able to add more information,

much better graphics, and customize and edit. My Canva creation is a material that I will be

using in my classroom and distributing to my students for quick reference of discriminating

between the rules of a hard g, and a soft g. For my phonics Spanish program I have little

resources, and I see myself using it to create posters and materials for my students to use.

The second tool I used was Popplet. This week in our ELA program, my first grade

bilingual students are learning to concept of nouns based around a story names Lucias

Neighborhood. I choose this tool because it allows me to create a graphic organizer my students

are familiar with. I enjoyed that as a digital tool it is editable, unlike permanent marker on poster

paper. In addition, the integration of picture aides can help me reach students who have recently

come to the country or have only a few years and still developing their English language skills.

In the future I would use this tool as a premade material. Unfortunately, I do not have a

smartboard in my room, which I believe would be the most beneficial to use this tool. In

addition, my only apprehension with this tool is that I would have to save the images onto a USB

drive in order to access them, instead of being able to search for images in the tool. Popplet is a

good tool to use and I could see myself using it for other topics I will be covering such as

adjectives and other grammar in the upcoming weeks.

The last tool I was able to use this week was Storyboard that. In my use of the tool I

modified it to fit the needs of my students. My immediate take of the tool was that it would be

great for history teachers. However, at my specific grade level, I thought it would work well for
social stories. Currently in my classroom, making and engaging in an appropriate behavior is

essential and must be constantly discussed. I took a screenshot of the tool on my browser, then

pasted and cropped it into a word document. I then numbered each picture, and created

numbered writing space for children to write their suggestions to the social story. This tool can

be used at many grade levels and modified for a specific use. I could see myself using this tool

beyond social stories as the year progresses, and with different prompts.

All of these tools tied into the idea that visual tools can further student concepts. Relating

to the reading, Canva is the definition of a pictograph and I believe that my students will be able

to move from simply seeing my created pictographs, and eventually create their own Canva

creation to demonstrate their own understandings. For example, my creation focused on the rule

that the letter g can change its sound depending on the vowel it is next to. I created my Canva

with my own knowledge and vocabulary base. In the upcoming weeks, I may allow my students

to create their own representation of understanding and use their own vocabulary base to prove

understanding.

In conclusion, this shift from teacher to student created materials also hold true with

Popplet. Popplet also serves as a pictograph and also as a kinesthetic activity. As children create

their web, they are able to connect mind and body to their understanding of concepts and also

reinforce with pictures. This serves true for Storyboard that as well. Through these visual tools

students are able to visualize and create understanding beyond academics, and can be used for

various reasons such as proving comprehension, planning, predicting, and creating.