I wanted to build on what MaryAnn said about choosing a picture dictionary
(which is a great resource for a literacy classroom, as several of you have
mentioned!)

I have found some of the picture dictionaries to have too many pictures or
photos on one page, although they are often beautiful illustrations. It can
be overwhelming to process so many visual representations at one time.
Therefore, I strongly recommend choosing a simple resource such as the one
MaryAnn mentioned. 

In the same vein, I'd like to recommend an "oldie but goodie" called "Basic
Vocabulary Builder: Blackline Masters," by Dorothy Gabel Liebowitz 

(available online from Alta ESL books for $28 -- see
http://www.altaesl.com/Detail.cfm?CatalogID=1004&CFID=1450657&CFTOKEN=261)
  
The vocabulary builder has 32 photocopiable lifeskill-based picture pages.
Each page has 16 black-and-white simple boxed drawings, with room underneath
for students to write a caption.

The masters lend themselves to a variety of classroom activities, such as

- Copying vocabulary words next to the correct picture;
- Cutting the picture cards and matching them with word cards;
- Choosing a few of the picture cards (e.g., from units such as "activities"
or "families" or "seasons and weather") and eliciting a story from learners
about them;
- As a follow-up to the previous activity, sequencing the picture cards from
a story.

I love Colleen's idea of having learners take digital photos to create their
own picture dictionaries. One could use the individual photos for the
activities mentioned above -- i.e., matching photos to flashcards with
vocabulary words written on them, etc.

What are some other ways to use picture dictionaries with literacy-level
learners?

Betsy Lindeman Wong
Lead ESL Teacher
Alexandria Adult and Community Education