How to see with your eyes closed
Reading to Learn Design
Mareena Kohtala
Rationale
Visualization is
creating an
image in your head. It is important to visualize as you are reading to
maintain
comprehension. When something does not fit into the visual you have
then you
know that you did not comprehend something right. Since most books
include
fewer and fewer illustrations as children age, it is important to
visualize to
maintain comprehension. In picture books, it is easy for children to
understand
the story because of the illustrations. Getting students to make their
own
pictures early will help them maintain understanding through longer
non-illustrated texts.
Materials
Copy of
Hatchet for
each student, copy of “Daddy Fell into the Pond” poem, paper, crayons,
checklist
of questions:
1.
Did the student read silently?
2. Did the student draw a picture?
3. Did the picture represent something that happened only in the first
chapter?
4. Are the images or events in the picture accurate?
5. Did the student draw or describe in detail the events? (let students
describe if some can’t draw as well, do not grade the level of the art
work)
Procedures
1. “I am going
to say a
word, and I want you to tell me what the first thing you think of. If
you want
to close your eyes, feel free.
2.
Now I am going to read the poem, “Daddy Fell Into the Pond” by Alfred
Noyes (http://www.poetry-online.org/noyes_daddy_fell_into_the_pond.htm)
While I am reading, I want you to visualize what is happening. It may
help to
close your eyes to visualize better. Think about the characters and
what they
may look like. Think about what is happened, what must just have
happened and
what will happen. Think about what is around the scene. Then I want you
to share
with your group what you thought about. Have students share their
mental images
within their groups and talk about the similarities and differences.
3.
Now we are going to start reading our next novel, “Hatchet.” Hatchet is
the
story of a thirteen-year-old boy named Brian that is flying out to see
his dad.
He is flying alone with the pilot in a small plane in northern
4.
Who remembers what reading silently means. Yes, you read silently to
yourself.
Do not read out loud. I should not hear anyone as you read. Read the
first
chapter silently. Visualize the plane and the things Brian describe.
You are
going to be very tempted to read on but before you do I want you to
draw what
you visualized in the first chapter. When everyone is finished we will
share
our drawings. Have each student present their drawing one at a time.
Use the
attached checklist to assess comprehension and visualization. As a
class
discuss the differences in the pictures drawn. If for some reason every
single
student draws the exact same thing, then scaffold by providing some
images you
thought about: the small plane, a sweaty smelly man probably over
weight, deep
woods and clouds.
Assessment
Use
the following criteria to check for comprehension and visualization:
1. Did the student read silently?
2. Did the student draw a picture?
3. Did the picture represent something that happened only in the first
chapter?
4. Are the images or events in the picture accurate?
5. Did the student draw or describe in detail the events? (let students
describe if some can’t draw as well, do not grade the level of the art
work)
Reference
Tidwell, Casey. “The
Adventures of Visualization.” http://www.auburn.edu/rdggenie/explor/tidwellrl.html
Noyes, Alfred. “Daddy
Fell
into the Pond.” http://www.poetry-online.org/noyes_daddy_fell_into_the_pond.htm
Paulse, Gary. Hatchet.
Simon Pulse Paperbacks: