PWIM

Last week we began a new program in our room called PWIM (picture word inductive model). PWIM uses pictures containing familiar objects, actions and scenes to draw out words from children’s listening and speaking vocabularies. This model helps students add words to their sight reading vocabulary, as well as their writing vocabulary, and also discover phonetic and structural principles present in those words.

 Some of the advantages of PWIM are as follows.

- The strategy emphasizes phonics, grammar, mechanics, and usage of Standard English.
- Pictures provide concrete referents for the learning of new words, phrases, and sentences.

- As students are using pictures related to content material under study, they feel a part of the classroom community and can participate in class activities.
- The picture word chart serves as an immediate reference to enable students to add these words to their sight vocabulary. The teacher can choose to emphasize almost any sound and symbol relationship (introduced or taken to mastery).
- Students are assisted in seeing the patterns and relationships of the English language, enabling them to apply this learning to newly encountered words.
- Students hear and see words spelled correctly and participate in the correct spelling and writing.
- Learners benefit from the teacher modeling of the key words and concepts. With extensive practice, they can begin to learn how to create sentences and paragraphs related to the subject under study.

 This is our first PWIM picture and the words we have already "shook out".