Visualizing

What is visualization and just why should I teach this strategy anyway??? Visualizing is creating mental pictures in your mind as you read a story. These pictures unfold and change as you read. It personalizes reading and often prevents us from abandoning a book too soon!

Proficient readers use images to draw conclusions, to create distinct and unique interpretations of the text, to recall details significant to the text, and to recall a text after it has been read. Images from reading frequently become part of the reader's writing. Images from a reader's
personal experience frequently become part of their comprehension.

Many of our students don't come equipped with this skill so it is up to us to teach them to "see" as they read or listen to a story. There are several strategy lessons in chapter nine of the Strategies That Work book. One of my favorite ways is to read aloud to the class. Model drawing what you "see" in your mind. Give them a piece of paper and have them draw what they "see" in their mind as you are reading. Give them time to adjust their pictures as necessary.

What are some examples of lessons you would use to teach this skill?

Until next time....