Visualising
If readers can "see it", they can often understand it (Tovani, 2000).
Readers who are visualisers bring text to life by using language to construct vivid mental images. Not all readers are visualisers, despite being able to comprehend an author's message; they understand, but they don't "see it".
Visualisation can be a powerful tool for comprehension, as once a reader visually experiences something they have read, it is almost as though it has happened and their comprehension solidifies. Therefore, for visualisation to be an effective strategy, readers must have an understanding of the author's message first.
If we could see readers' visual interpretations of text, they would be quite different. This is due to reader diversity and corresponding differences in prior knowledge. Additionally, there is scope for learners to add in surrounding detail not evident in the text.
The crux of comprehension is that readers understand the author's message. If learners misinterpret an author's message, their visual representation may be inaccurate or missing certain key features. However, if they actively engage with comprehension strategies, their mental visualisation is more likely to reflect the author's message and solidify their comprehension.
This highlights the importance of readers engaging with the text and actively thinking about the clues within it as well as other strategies for making meaning. It also highlights the importance of aiding students' understanding using visual aids.
Visualisation can be a powerful tool for comprehension, as once a reader visually experiences something they have read, it is almost as though it has happened and their comprehension solidifies. Therefore, for visualisation to be an effective strategy, readers must have an understanding of the author's message first.
If we could see readers' visual interpretations of text, they would be quite different. This is due to reader diversity and corresponding differences in prior knowledge. Additionally, there is scope for learners to add in surrounding detail not evident in the text.
The crux of comprehension is that readers understand the author's message. If learners misinterpret an author's message, their visual representation may be inaccurate or missing certain key features. However, if they actively engage with comprehension strategies, their mental visualisation is more likely to reflect the author's message and solidify their comprehension.
This highlights the importance of readers engaging with the text and actively thinking about the clues within it as well as other strategies for making meaning. It also highlights the importance of aiding students' understanding using visual aids.
Questions and ideas for the Classroom
- Look at associated pictures with the topic/text
- Watch text in video format - Watch you tube clips on the topic - Draw/create visual/dramatic representations on parts of text - Write descriptive poems on parts of text - Ask "what does it look like?", "what do you see/imagine?" - Create visual representations and then compare to those of the author. "How are they the same/different?" - "Which part/which words/what understanding made you see that?" |
Visualisation texts...........
Further Resources
http://www.readwritethink.org/classroom-resources/lesson-plans/guided-comprehension-visualizing-using-229.html?tab=4
http://www.cleverschoolteacher.com/Categories/CS35Visualizing/tabid/140/List/1/catpageindex/1/CategoryID/60/Level/a/Default.aspx
http://www.cer.education.nsw.gov.au/documents/249903/250184/Comprehension%20Handbook%20.pdf at p. 86-97
http://www.decd.sa.gov.au/northernadelaide/files/links/4_VisualisingBooklet.pdf
http://www.youclevermonkey.com/2013/10/teaching-reading-comprehension.html
http://www.cleverschoolteacher.com/Categories/CS35Visualizing/tabid/140/List/1/catpageindex/1/CategoryID/60/Level/a/Default.aspx
http://www.cer.education.nsw.gov.au/documents/249903/250184/Comprehension%20Handbook%20.pdf at p. 86-97
http://www.decd.sa.gov.au/northernadelaide/files/links/4_VisualisingBooklet.pdf
http://www.youclevermonkey.com/2013/10/teaching-reading-comprehension.html
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