Do your students struggle with figurative language? If you answered ‘yes’, you are not alone. While some figurative language elements are pretty easy to pick up, others are a real stumper for many kids. What turned it around in my classroom? Say hello to Figurative Language Doodle Wheels! Part graphic organizer, part note-taking resource, these nifty tools are here to unravel the secrets of figurative language. So, let’s dive right in and find out how these wheels can work their charm and turn your students into true language aficionados!
Unleash the Magic of Figurative Language: A New Note-Taking Approach
Back in the day, we used to lean on foldable notes in classes. They were great, but there was a catch – middle school class periods have a knack for flying by like the wind. We all shudder when we remember trying to fold, cut, and paste notes while time ticked away faster than we’d like. Often, by the time we were ready to fill out our foldable masterpieces, the class was over!
Speaking of challenges, let’s talk about organization – or the lack of it. I experimented with folders and envelopes and I even tried binding them into neat little books. I sorted them in the order we’d use them throughout the school year, with some blank pages sprinkled in between. Some notes clung to their original pages, while others were like artistic rebels, glued or taped to the blank pages. In the end, it was a bit of a jigsaw puzzle.
That got me thinking. My students were creating good, organized notes in math class using math wheels. I decided to apply that to some ELA topics and it worked like a charm.
For more background on doodle wheels in math and ELA, make sure to read Using Doodle Wheel Graphic Organizers for Math and ELA.
The Magic of Figurative Language Wheels
Picture a note-taking method that doesn’t just make things easier but also adds a dash of fun and excitement. That’s where Figurative Language Doodle Wheels and Figurative Langauge Doodle Notes enter! These nifty graphic organizers have given the teaching and learning of figurative language a complete makeover. Wondering what makes them so special? Let’s dig into why they’re a total game-changer.
1. Everything on One Page
Say goodbye to the origami-level note folding acrobatics.
These doodle wheels and practice pages keep everything neatly stacked on a single page. No more flipping, folding, or unfolding – it’s a breeze! No fuss, no hassle!
2) Engaging and Interactive
These figurative language graphic organizers inject excitement into your students’ learning experiences. Students add their notes to the labeled sections and go wild with vibrant colors! Think of it as your secret to color-coding concepts and making those figurative language intricacies a piece of cake to understand.
3) Encouraging Creativity
It’s not just about notes because your learners can also get their creative juices flowing by adding their doodles or images. They can link what they learn to their background knowledge through images that make sense to them. This creative freedom is a fantastic chance for students to show their unique style in ELA class, adding a personalized touch to their notes.
The wheel includes a color code for each figurative language element. Your students can go all out with their coloring skills to help them remember each element based on the color.
Afterward, your students can choose how to color the rest of the background pattern, the headings, and those cool doodle arrows. The result? A personalized and visually engaging set of notes that are as unique as each student!
4) Figurative Language Practice Included
These wheels are packed with cool features! Each wheel has designated sections for taking notes on the different types of figurative language. What’s more, you’ll find a ring of 12 practice sentences circling the wheel. This is where students can put their detective hats on and identify the various types of figurative language.
The doodle notes come with a separate practice page so students don’t miss out on that key step.
5) Easy to Store
Storing the Figurative Language Doodle Wheels and Doodle Notes are a piece of cake. Your students can keep them all neat in a folder, pop them into an envelope, or slip them into a trusty binder. If you’re using interactive notebooks, these pages blend right in. Now, students have their notes right at their fingertips, ready for quick reference all year long.
Teaching with Figurative Language Doodle Wheels and Notes
My Figurative Language Doodle Wheels and Figurative Language Notes and Practice Worksheets are a dynamic duo in the classroom! They’ve completely changed how I teach these figurative language elements to my students.
Figurative Language Doodle Wheels Set the Stage
Let’s start with the Figurative Language Doodle Wheels. I kick things off by introducing these wheels to the whole class. These particular doodle wheels cover six essential elements: simile, metaphor, alliteration, idiom, hyperbole, and personification.
As I walk the class through the sections of the wheel, I break down the definition of each element and throw in some examples. These examples come with relatable images that your learners can add to with their own doodles and colors.
Then, students use these wheels to practice spotting these figurative language elements in 12 engaging sentences. The color-coding system is a game-changer because it makes it a breeze for students to tell one element from another. We will do these sentences together usually. Depending on the time, I’d let my class turn and talk with a partner before sharing with the whole class which element the sentence represents.
As they go along, students get to let their creativity loose by coloring not only the elements but also the background patterns, headings, and doodle arrows. It’s a chance for them to add their own personal flair to their notes to help them remember the vocabulary they learned.
Figurative Language Notes and Practice Worksheets: Deepening the Understanding
Once the doodle wheels are completed, it’s time to move on to the Figurative Language Notes and Practice Worksheets. These help me to see where my students are confident and which elements they may need more practice with. I’ll use these pages in small groups, with partners, or have them in rotations for centers.
With the Doodle Notes pages, it’s all about organized note-taking. Each term gets its own place for a definition and examples. Some example boxes even have a bit of extra space, perfect for students to add their own unique examples.
Even though the information on the page is similar to the Doodle Wheel, I have students complete it again as a way of helping them move that information into long-term memory. You can have students complete the page using the doodle wheel as a guide, you can complete it as a class to review the figurative language topics, or you can have students complete it on their own as an informal assessment to see how they are doing with understanding the concepts.
There are five practice pages in total, one for each element (except similes and metaphors which share a page). Students can dive into similes, metaphors, alliteration, idioms, hyperboles, and personification. They apply what they’ve learned and gain the confidence to spot and use these elements in their writing.
These resources are perfect for in-class work, homework, or center activities. I’ve also included answer keys and samples to give students a helping hand, ensuring they’re on the right track.
Using the Figurative Language Doodle Wheels and Notes and Practice Worksheets has made teaching figurative language more exciting and accessible for my students. They don’t just learn to brain dump later, but rather, they leave my class with a deep understanding and their notes in hand. This dynamic duo has totally transformed my ELA lessons and given my students an enriched learning experience.
Enhanced Figurative Language Note-Taking
In the world of education, finding that perfect blend of engaging and effective teaching tools can be a bit like searching for treasure. In the realm of ELA, the Figurative Language Doodle Wheels and notes and practice worksheets are not just tools. They’ve changed the way I introduce and explore these language elements and have also injected fun, practicality, and creativity into my students’ learning experiences.
You can add these resources to your figurative language lesson plans.
From colorful notes to strengthen memory to interactive practice, these resources have made figurative language an exciting adventure. Don’t just take my word for it. Bring these tools into your classroom and embark on a journey where language becomes a memorable learning experience!
