Non-Linguistic Representations

I try to make my classes more concrete, so this area is an area I can improve upon.

My Honors LA 10 students needed to fulfill a standard that asked them to adapt a persuasive essay into a persuasive speech. In my classroom, that process involves making a visualization paragraph in which the speaker asks the audience to imagine the utopia that will flourish if they heed the speaker's advice, or, imagine a dystopian world that will emerge if the opposite occurs. My students did well with their visualization.

Also, at the end of each speech, we did an affirmation. Students wrote these celebratory responses at the beginning of the year so it was fun to hear them again. After each speech we did things like stomping, clapping, the wave, and a mushroom dance to support each other and help us visualize a cohesive community free of judgement. It went well. 

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