|

7 Creative Ways to Extend Learning with Your Picture-Based ELA Bell Ringers

Finding a warm-up that actually works for your students (and doesn’t make you want to toss your lesson plans out the window) is a win. So if you’ve grabbed our Daily ELA Bell Ringers with Picture Prompts, you’ve already got a powerful tool in your hands.

But what if I told you… You’re just scratching the surface?

tips for using picture prompts in ELA

Whether you’re looking to reinforce reading skills, deepen writing instruction, or keep early finishers meaningfully engaged, this post is here to help you squeeze every ounce of value out of the resource you’ve already invested in.

Here are 7 smart, low-prep ways to extend and maximize your picture-based ELA bell ringers:

1. Turn Bell Ringers into Small Group Launchpads

Already using them as a class warm-up? Try pulling one skill from the week’s bell ringer and reteaching it in a targeted small group.

For example:

  • If Monday’s prompt focused on main idea, grab a short passage and reinforce it with a mini-lesson and hands-on practice.
  • Use the original picture prompt to spark discussion, then scaffold with sentence stems or graphic organizers.

Bonus: Use this strategy to track progress for students on IEPs or in intervention.

2. Create a Writing Showcase Wall

Don’t let those awesome picture prompts disappear into a folder. Choose one day a week to display students’ favorite responses. Not only does this celebrate student voice, but it also builds community and shows growth over time.

Tip: Encourage students to revise their writing using the embedded checklists before submitting it for display!

3. Use the Photos as Discussion Starters for Speaking & Listening Standards

If your class struggles with productive discussion, these pictures are gold. Try:

  • Pair-and-share routines
  • Socratic circles using the writing prompt as the opening question
  • Sentence starters for academic talk

Prompt: “What do you think happened before (or after) this picture?”
Result: Rich conversation, increased oral fluency, and deeper comprehension.

4. Build Mini-Lessons Around Skill Gaps

The skills spiral throughout the 40 weeks, but if you notice students missing something (like inference or point of view), pause and build a mini-lesson using that week’s picture.

The benefit? Students already know the image, they’ve been writing or reflecting on it, which lowers the barrier for skill instruction.

Need ideas? Check out these posts:

5. Add Them to a Literacy Station Rotation

Already done with the week’s bell ringers? Slide them into your literacy centers for spiral review. Students can:

  • Revisit the writing prompt and revise with a partner
  • Color-code their responses for parts of speech or text structure
  • Trade with a peer and respond to each other’s writing

It’s a great way to reinforce skills without extra work on your end.

6. Use for Progress Monitoring & IEP Documentation

Many teachers (especially interventionists and special ed) love these warm-ups because:

  • The prompts show growth over time
  • They’re quick snapshots of student thinking
  • You can use them for informal data collection on skills like sentence construction, grammar, or comprehension

Just copy a few responses into a student portfolio. It’s one of the easiest ways to document academic progress without needing a separate assessment.

7. Bridge the Gap Between Reading & Writing Instruction

These bell ringers aren’t just for warming up. They’re an easy way to model how comprehension and writing support each other.

Try this:

  • Use the reading skill prompts Monday–Thursday
  • Let students “apply” their comprehension in writing using Friday’s picture prompt
  • Circle back and reflect: How did understanding the main idea, or making an inference, help you write a better response?

This cross-skill reflection builds metacognition and helps struggling learners make meaningful connections.

Ready to Try Something New This Week?

You already have the tools… Now you’ve got even more ideas for using them. The beauty of these Picture-Based Daily ELA Bell Ringers is their flexibility. Whether you’ve got 10 minutes or a full ELA block, they fit right in.

creative ways to use photo of the week

Want more skill-specific support? Check out the posts we linked above or explore our other comprehension tools designed for classrooms like yours, where readers come with all kinds of strengths and struggles.

Haven’t grabbed the full resource yet?
You can get it here: Daily ELA Bell Ringers with Picture Prompts on TPT

Similar Posts