The Power of Picture Books in First Grade

First grade has begun their year in reading workshop exploring the most effective strategies to read and respond to picture books. They have learned to examine the cover for clues as to the focus of the book and to utilize the title and picture on the cover to begin their thinking about the book.

Some of the books are written by one author and illustrator and others by two different people. Students have been learning to identify connections that they make to books and to their own lives and how these connections help us to understand a book more deeply. The vocabulary in picture books is often sophisticated and allow our students to grow in their use of words and language. We encourage the students to not only discuss the meaning of new words, but to connect the words to other words and categories.

The strategy of acting out the meaning of a new word allows that word to be remembered. Picture books often have messages that students can incorporate into their own lives. Our students listen carefully and respond while the story is being read, share ideas with a partner, envision a part of the book that they want to write about and then write and illustrate one aspect of the story. This beginning of the year study in first grade is such an effective way to start first grade reading workshop.