Learning opportunities across the KLAs

                 Integrating multiple literacies in lessons is easily one of the best ways that we can ensure meaning making is taking place within the classroom. It allows for our students to be given the opportunity to receive a deeper understanding of what is being taught.

              As children, we are constantly told 'a picture is worth a thousand words', but are we allowing that type of learning within our classroom? Are we teaching as well as showing, and are we allowing our students to do the same? If we allow multiliteracy within the classroom, we can more easily integrate learning across the KLAs: For instance, if the children are struggling with the concept of poems, the teacher can show them a music clip that uses visual and auditory semiotics in order to teach how to write a poem through singing (using, for example, this particular clip):

              If teachers can effectively use multiliteracies within their own style and pedagogy, they can ensure that their students are building their knowledge of the field, their understanding of concepts and development of vocabulary knowledge (Walsh, 2010).

Using multiliteracy methods across all KLAs in the classroom allows students to further show and develop their knowledge and understanding. For example, if we are teaching Creative Arts (specifically drama),  we can have the children create an animated storyboard script and then film their play, or for a science lesson, children can create a claymation in order to demonstrate how to build a bridge. There are many ways we can provide more learning opportunities in the school environment for our students.







References:

Walsh, M. (2010). Multimodal literacy: What does it mean for classroom practice?, Australian Journal of Language and Literacy, 33(3). 211–239

Pictures  and Clips

Creative Arts (n.d) ‘Creative Arts’ Retrieved from http://newdaygeneration.org/images/sized
/images/uploads/CreativeArtsPic2-697x390.jpg

Aoyama, E. (2003) ‘A Picture is worth a thousand words’ Retrived from http://rpsb.us/nitro
/images/pic_thousand_words.jpg

Youtube.com (n.d) ‘Engage Me’ Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?
feature=player_embedded&v=ZokqjjIy77Y

Nesbitt, K. (n.d) My Parents Sent Me To The Store, ‘A Funny Kids Poem’ Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=8AaFtT_M39Q