Beyond the Words: Using the Arts to Deepen Reading Comprehension

Some of the richest thinking about a text happens beyond the words on the page. In this practical, classroom-ready session, educators will explore how the arts can create powerful new entry points into reading comprehension. Through illustration study, drama tableaux, mood music, and soundscapes, students are invited to notice details, make inferences, explore important ideas, and uncover meanings that may not be explicitly stated. Participants will see each strategy in action, consider how it can be woven into repeated readings of a familiar text, and leave with planning tools and practical ideas they can use with picture books already on their shelves.