In my previous post about Lego education, I talked about how you can think of building the answer to a reading comprehension like building a Lego stack. It’s a 1-2-3 process, fairly simple, but that Lego stack really keep visual learners on task.
I use the same thing when tutoring a student in writing, but it gets a tiny bit more complex. It can work when building a paragraph or when building an essay. With a little stretching, it can even expand to a – gak! – research project.
Let’s look at a paragraph first. The first thing you need is a topic sentence. This will be what the paragraph is about. In the next sentence, you will say something that will support your topic sentence. Next, you will give supporting details to prove your supporting idea. Finally, you may need a concluding sentence to end that paragraph and transition onto the next paragraph.
At this point, the student I am tutoring – or YOUR student – may be looking up with a ‘HUH??’ look. So an example paragraph is needed.
Lego stores are the most fun ever. This is your topic sentence, the main point you are trying to make. This is the bottom Lego block. (At this point, I will hold up that red block).
You can play with Legos, and you can see all the Lego sets. This is one thing that makes Lego stores incredibly fun – you are giving a reason WHY Lego stores are incredibly fun. (Yellow block is added on top of that red block)
The last time I went to a Lego store, I got to see the new Star Wars sets and finally figured out which one to buy. You are giving me a detail to back up your supporting idea. (As I add a red block on top of the yellow block)
I had a lot of fun during that Lego trip and will always be up for a return visit. (And the green block is gently slammed onto the red block)
HEY!!! You constructed a paragraph that fits together as well as a Lego column! You rock!!
Yes, this IS an almost word for word actual tutoring session with an ADHD 5th grader. Using the colors and the Lego blocks are ways to focus the attention and to do something besides just look at words while you’re trying to figure out what to say next. For me and a lot of other ADHD people, if you want to engage the brain, engage the hands in some non-distracting, non-essential activity. Doodling, fidget toys, jewellery – or Lego blosck – are great ways to do this.
Next – expanding it to an essay….
