Summer fever? Help your students focus these last few weeks…
Keep your students engaged as Summer approaches!
It’s hard for me to believe that my second book, YouCue Feelings: Using Online Videos for Social Learning, turned 10 this past March! 🥳
I’m glad to report that, while some materials we used to use have gone, well, out of use (anyone remember the Language Master?), animations are STILL great for so many aspects of our social cognition work!
Let’s think about my top three reasons:
1️⃣ First, and perhaps foremost, they are engaging – across a wide swath of ages and abilities. And, engaged learners learn better!
2️⃣ Second, making illustrations of scenes in animations after watching allows students to think about them more – as they draw, they often add important relevant details, including thought and talk bubbles, as well as feelings. ✏️💭
These sketches give us a window into how they are understanding a concept:
Maca & Roni: Turn off the AC by Kyungmin Woo
Game Changer, by Aviv Mono
Piper by Pixar
Soar by Alice Tzue
I encourage ALL students to draw, no matter their fine motor abilities. Sketching draws them more deeply into the narrative, and let’s them feel the feelings that are expressed more, so they are able to…
3️⃣ Move from character thinking to self-reflection. After students see animations in which characters struggle or deal with uncomfortable feelings, it’s easier for them to admit to, and reflect on, their own experiences. 🫂
They don’t feel so alone, since they have just witnessed characters dealing with aspects of our shared human experience:
I’m hoping some of these illustrations will encourage you to do some viewing and sketching with your groups. Remember, if you need recommendations of terrific animations, you can download quite a few lists from my website – I’ve done the hunting and sorting for you! 🔍
Sign up for my free resources!
Finishing up
I’d like to give a shout-out to the many animators and fellow clinicians who have supported my work with animations – you helped me spread the word about the power of a great video!
Here’s just a small sampling:
Read Chapter 1 of You Cue Feelings
Enjoy these days before summer starts!! 🌞
