FOUR-TO-ONE

Sophie Lee

Four-to-One is a simple strategy that incorporates digital images in meaningful, effective, and
practical ways. This strategy helps develop both comprehension and writing skills using schema
by building background knowledge and making connections to write sentences. The students will
also communicate and collaborate with peers to further develop their language and writing skills.

Why should I use it?

Schema theory explains how our previous experiences, knowledge, emotions, and
understandings affect what and how we learn (Harvey & Goudvis, 2000)
Students comprehend better when they make different kinds of connections: Text-to-self, Text-to-
text, Text-to-world (Keene and Zimmerman 1997)
It is said that good readers and writers allow their schema to enhance their understanding and
connections.

How it works:
Have 4 pre-selected digital images ready to display on the board.
Distribute Four-to-One handout or instruct students to fold a blank paper into four boxes.
Explain that you are going to show them four different pictures, one at a time. Have students
write a complete sentence for each image in each box. Encourage them to write a sentences
related to an experiences they've had with the object.
Have students work in pairs or small groups to discuss their individual sentences and make
comparisons.
Allow students to collaborate to create 1 complete sentence that incorporates all 4 images.
(Accept silly sentences.)
Select a few sentences to display and guide students through a check of sentence completion.
Then question students on sentence structure regarding parts of speech, describing words, or
even substituting words.

Learning styles:
Auditory /Visual / and Kinesthetic Learners
Great for All Intrapersonal learners make sense of what they know
English language Learners-gives them opportunity to develop vocabulary and grammar skills
while speaking.

Notes:
This strategy is a great way to build students background knowledge, get students to practice
writing great sentences, as well as communicating and collaborating with peers.
It is a great tool for students to use their schema, think beyond the visual information shared,
and make connections to form sentences related to the content.
It can be used as a hook to a unit of study or as a quick check up to a lesson (ticket out the
door).
Student work samples:
Sentence Completion Check: Whole Group-
Suggestion: Older students can switch papers to do sentence
completion check of each others papers.
 Four-to-One

Sentence:

___________________________
___________________________
___________________________