An idea we got from Matt Glover makes this recording sheet even more valuable. When conferring, we sometimes ask students to share with the group before the workshop ends. Now when they share a challenge and/or success at the end of the literacy or writing workshop block, we circle the date (see photo). This makes it really easy to see who needs a turn to share.

We lift the status of children when we share their writing or use them as mentors for the class. This little tip makes it easy to keep track so we can make sure everyone gets his or her moment in the spotlight. 

I have never been so wrong.

This year alone, I have referenced “read the pictures” more times than I can count! It has easily become a saving grace for my students. I started Jillian Heise’s project #ClassroomBookADay, in which we read a picture book every day for the enjoyment of books. What I have noticed during this time is how carefully we pay attention to the pictures, as evidenced by questions such as “Look at the way this character’s face shows their emotion.” “Did you notice the illustrator’s incredible use of colors?” “What did you notice about the use of background on this page?”

Tuning in to read the pictures has proved to my fifth graders, and myself, that the artwork that goes into these books is certainly not accidental but is purposeful, and that it should be read carefully, just like the text.

I know we will continually visit “read the pictures” this year, and I can’t wait to share with my students the many more experiences that pictures and illustrations bring to the text.