Teacher Tip: Teaching Vocabulary and Numeracy in Context
Have you ever used your students’ own photos as a teaching tool?
One of our teachers in a pre-literate classroom recently created an engaging activity that brought students’ families into the classroom while connecting several learning goals. Students had expressed interest in understanding the U.S. school system, particularly how children’s ages correspond to grade levels. The teacher used photos of students’ children to turn that interest into a meaningful, hands-on learning opportunity.
To prepare, the teacher printed photos of students' family members. Then, the teacher asked them to fill in the ages of each person on their page. Students began by practicing their numbers and reading the ages on the photos. Then, they worked together to match each child’s photo and age with the corresponding grade level in the U.S. school system. The activity also gave students a chance to revisit vocabulary for family members that they had learned in a previous unit.
Students had a great time with the activity!
About this activity, the teacher said, "Students were really excited about these, and it's been great to see them get to know some of the newer students and their families better through these activities. We're reviewing family vocabulary, building community, font variability, integrating some numeracy skills, and learning about public schooling all at once in a way that is accessible and text-minimal."
By bringing photos of their own families into the classroom, they could see connections between what they were learning and their everyday lives. They practiced numeracy, reviewed familiar vocabulary, and explored a topic that mattered to them, all while learning more about the school system their families navigate.
Activities like this are a great reminder that meaningful learning doesn't always require elaborate materials. Using things we see every day can create opportunities to build on previous learning, helping adult learners connect classroom skills to their personal goals and interests.
What are some ways you practice important skills in context?
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