Visual Imagery
Definition:
"The Visual Imagery strategy asks students to imagine/create a mental image, rich in sensory content (sight, sound, smell, touch, and taste) of the content of a reading selection. Most often, the mental picture will draw from a student's past experiences, connecting the content of the reading selection to the reader's prior knowledge," (Reading Educator, 2014).
The Steps to Implement Visual Imagery:
"The Visual Imagery strategy asks students to imagine/create a mental image, rich in sensory content (sight, sound, smell, touch, and taste) of the content of a reading selection. Most often, the mental picture will draw from a student's past experiences, connecting the content of the reading selection to the reader's prior knowledge," (Reading Educator, 2014).
The Steps to Implement Visual Imagery:
- Read a section of very descriptive text.
- Stop reading after several sentences and share with the students your mental image you created using the text.
- Have the students describe their mental image they created from the text.
- Discuss the similarities and differences between everyone's images. Have students use information from the text or past experiences to help explain their image.
- Repeat this process until the passage has been read, ( Reading Rockets, 2014).
Benefits of this Strategy:
- Increases comprehension.
- Engages the student in the text, (Reading Rockets, 2014).
Video 1: This video shows a teacher modeling the visualization strategy. The teacher reads a text and actually draws the picture in her head. She then reads another passage and draws another picture. She has the students copy her picture down. Finally, she reads another passage and has the students draw their own picture. She picks one student to present their picture to the class. These pictures have helped the students retain the information that is being read. The students keep all of their drawings in a notebook. The pictures have helped the students recall information they have read a week earlier.
Video 2: In this video a teacher models visualization using a t-char in a journal. At the beginning of the video, the teacher talks about the word imagery and how authors use it help create a mental image. The teacher then reads a paragraph from a book. He then models visualization using a t-chart in his journal. One side of the journal, he quotes the author. On the other side, he draws what he sees in his head. This does a nice job of using the text to support his picture.
Writing Component:
Have the students read a passage that is very descriptive. After they have read the passage, give them time to draw a picture of what they saw in their head. Underneath the picture, have the students write why they drew that specific picture. Make sure they use words and phrases from the text to support their reasoning. They could also use personal experiences to support their picture. The picture and the paragraph would do a great job of assessing the comprehension of the text.
Writing Standard Addressed:
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.CCRA.W.9
Draw evidence from literary or informational texts to support analysis, reflection, and research.
Sources:
Visual Imagery. (2014). In Reading Educator. Retrieved July 15, 2014, from
http://www.readingeducator.com/strategies/visual.htm.
Visual Imagery. (2014). In Reading Rockets. Retrieved July 15, 2014, from
http://www.readingrockets.org/strategies/visual_imagery.
Have the students read a passage that is very descriptive. After they have read the passage, give them time to draw a picture of what they saw in their head. Underneath the picture, have the students write why they drew that specific picture. Make sure they use words and phrases from the text to support their reasoning. They could also use personal experiences to support their picture. The picture and the paragraph would do a great job of assessing the comprehension of the text.
Writing Standard Addressed:
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.CCRA.W.9
Draw evidence from literary or informational texts to support analysis, reflection, and research.
Sources:
Visual Imagery. (2014). In Reading Educator. Retrieved July 15, 2014, from
http://www.readingeducator.com/strategies/visual.htm.
Visual Imagery. (2014). In Reading Rockets. Retrieved July 15, 2014, from
http://www.readingrockets.org/strategies/visual_imagery.