Building Relationships Through Sketchnoting

"My Pencil Made Me Do It!"

Dear Readers,

One of my favorite youtube videos is My Pencil Made Me Do It by @HeckAwesome also known as Carrie Baughcum. She does a wonderful job introducing sketchnoting with this short video.

This year, I decided to incorporate sketchnoting into my getting to know you activities with students. 

• First, I created my own get to know Ms. Gross sketchnote. In real time, it took me about 10-15 minutes.
• As the students came in, I did a formative assessment. I made a sketchnote and asked them to tally if they had ever heard the word sketchnote, if they had ever created one and how they would describe it to someone. (None of them had heard of it or created one.)
• I used my anchor charts I had created last year. With permission from Carrie, I asked to recreate one of her slides from her video. It is a fantastic model of icons, containers and topics. 

• Then I played the video for them. We discussed how it is a way to make your thinking visible. 
• Afterward, we talked about the icon library. I explained to them that I think in words and language. When I first started sketchnoting I lacked icons and pictures. However, Carrie challenged me to add 5 icons, then 10, etc.
• One way I used the sketchnote was to practice making inferences about me based on what they saw. 
• Before allowing them to get started, I explained the steps I went through in creating mine. (Started with my name using my favorite color, thought about hobbies, important people, favorite words and then added flowers and doodles.)
• I also commended them on being willing to take a risk and try something they have never done before!
• Finally, we have a beautiful hall display for open house!

Are you willing to take a risk with your students and put your creative hand to work?

Happy sketching!

Warmly,

Teresa