I Can See Clearly Now!



Keri Beall
Reading to Learn

Rationale:

As one is developing reading comprehension skills, it is important to continue the development by encouraging one to visualize.  Visualization can help a student become actively involved with the plot of a reading.  As a reader begins to visualize the story, he becomes engaged in the story by creating mental images as he grows more and more involved with the story.

 Materials:

I Took My Frog to the Library by Eric Kimmel (1 Copy Per Child)

White Paper for Each Student

Crayons and Markers for Each Student

 Procedure: 1.  "Can anyone tell me what it means to visualize?" "You're right, it means we are creating a picture in our mind of what is going on in the story we are listening to or reading.  I am positive everyone has visualized something before, even if you did not know that visualizing is what it is called.  Let's try visualizing for a minute.  I am going to read a few sentences and I want you to close you eyes and visualize what is going on."

 Say Aloud: "On Christmas morning, I looked out of the window and saw the snow-covered ground.  I ran down the steps to see what was under our tall, colorful, Christmas tree.  I saw presents of all sizes and shapes."  Now open your eyes.  Who can tell me what they saw? (Children will volunteer their answers) Great Job! Nice details!

 2.  After finishing the practice activity, administer the book I Took My Frog to the Library to each child.   Give the students a short book talk before they begin reading.  "This story is about a girl named Bridgett who decides to spend a day at the library.  She decides to take her different pets to the library.  But, we all know animals are sometimes hard to keep under control.  I wonder what will happen at her adventure in the library.  We'll have to read the book to find out. While you read I want you to think about what pictures you see in your brain.  After you finish the first four pages, you will draw the picture you see in your brain on paper.  Once you have shown your picture, continue reading.  I would like for you to share with a partner what you've seen in your brain while reading once you have finished the book."

       3.  Each student will tell me what they saw while reading.  We will discuss while we are using our visualization skills, we are getting better reading comprehension skills.  We will discuss how it feels as if we are almost in the story ourselves.

Assessment:  Teacher will asses the students by using a rubric showing if the student was able to creatively use visualization to see the events happening in the story.  Assessments will be made on the student's participation in the discussion and with partner.

References:

Kimmel, E.  I Took My Frog to the Library. Puffin Books.  New York, New York.  1992.

Larson, C.  Picture Perfect. 

http://www.auburn.edu/academic/education/reading_genie/odysseys/larsonrl.html

Mazza, M.  Do You See What I See?

            http://www.auburn.edu/academic/education/reading_genie/odysseys/mazzarl.html

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