Coloring for Comprehension Kanelia Cannon New Ellenton Middle School Aiken County Public School District

Why should I use this?  Coloring supports/provides:  Self expression  Color recognition  Therapy  Grip/Control  Coordination  Motor Skills  Focus kids.com/articles/why-color.htm “…coloring does offer a slew of mental benefits. "Coloring definitely has therapeutic potential to reduce anxiety, create focus or bring [about] more mindfulness," -Maygrace Berberian, certified art therapist and the Clinical Assistant Professor and Program Coordinator for the Graduate Art Therapy Program at NYU

What do my students say?  “Ooooooo, we get to color?”  “When do we get to do this again?”  “I like this.”  “This is work?”  “I have something wrong.”  “No, that’s not right. It can’t be that answer/color.”  “Look, you’ve got something wrong.”

Why I use it?  Grading becomes easier.  Visual  It relaxes my students.  It sparks conversations among my students.  It’s practice that they need.  Introducing new concepts.  Reviewing previously learned concepts.

How I got started?   Julie Faulkner  Not Just for Elementary

How to create a coloring page?  Determine the concept you want to use.  Choose an image/picture  Draw the image  Use a Creative Commons Image  Use a coloring page (coloring book or online)  Decide whether you want to use text or numbers.  Create your answer key.  COLOR!!!  Develop your questions/statements.  Use old worksheets

How to create a hidden picture page?  Determine the concept you want to use.  Choose an image/picture  Use a coloring page (coloring book or online)  Create your answer key.  COLOR!!!  Develop your questions/statements.  Use old worksheets  You do not have to have a separate number for each space.

How can it be used?  Traditional Worksheet Substitute  Vocabulary Terms  Reviewing Concepts  Social Studies: Wars - Characteristics of opposing forces  Science: Elements of body systems  Math: Multiplication practice; solving formulas correctly  Students with Disabilities  Use Microsoft Paint

Your Turn  Take a copy of the coloring sheet.  Think of 6 terms your students should know.  Past Unit of Study  Current Unit of Study  Write that word beside the color you want it to represent.  On the back of the sheet, write the definitions for the words according to the number.  Erase/cover the number (on the front).  You’ve just created your first comprehension coloring sheet.

Questions?