Drawing makes writing easier

1 JANUARY 2003

Kindergarten students and teachers in Albury are hoping to revitalise the old saying  ‘a picture can lead to a thousand words’ as part of a literacy research project being run by Charles Sturt University (CSU). Literacy researcher Dr Noella Mackenzie is working with ten teachers and 60 students to explore how children’s love of drawing can be used to support them as they learn to write. “Starting school provides many challenges for children, including learning to write. Writing is the most artificial and difficult of all language activities, because it demands skills from children which differ markedly from talking, reading and listening,” says Dr Mackenzie. “Teachers can make this process easier for children if they use a child’s existing strengths. Children’s drawings allow them to explore their ideas in drawing and talking before moving into the abstract process of writing.” Dr Mackenzie will explore these ideas with local teachers on Thursday 6 August, from 1.30 to 3pm at the Murray School of Education, CSU Thurgoona site. She recently presented early results of her research at a national literacy conference in Hobart, Tasmania.

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Albury-WodongaCharles Sturt UniversityTeaching and Education