I Can
See Clearly Now!
Learning To Read: Lesson on Visualization
Rationale:
For students to become fluent readers they need to have comprehension strategies
to help them make sense of what they read. A strategy that helps readers
comprehend better is that of visualization. To perform this strategy students
must constantly be making pictures in their head of the events of the story.
This lesson will help students begin to use the strategy of visualization while
reading to help them improve their comprehension skills.
Materials:
Drawing paper, crayons, markers, colored pencils, pencils, the book of poems
“Sometimes I Wonder if Poodles Like Noodles” by Laura Numeroff, and the chapter
book Esperanza Rising one per
student.
Procedures:
1. "Does anyone know what comprehension means? Comprehension is
something that happens when we understand what we are reading. When we read
longer books we need to remember what is going on in the story so we can
understand the rest of the book but this can be hard sometimes. If we make a
picture in our mind of what is going on in the story this can help us to
remember what has happened. Today we are going to be making pictures in our
minds while we read a few poems from the book “Sometimes I wonder if Poodles
Like Noodles” by Laura Numeroff. Before we start reading I want us to practice
making a picture in our heads. Close your eyes and picture this in your head,
“The horse ran through the meadow and threw back its mane.” Open your eyes. Did
everyone picture what I said in his or her heads? I pictured a big black horse
running through a meadow of bright purple flowers. Did you picture anything
different?
2. "When we picture things in our minds like this it is called visualization.
Visualizing while you read is really important to remember what is happening
along the way. Now I am going to read a poem to you from our book. While I read
the poem I want you to use your new visualization skills to make a picture in
your head about what is going on. You can think about what the setting would
look like, how you think the characters would look or act. I am going to be
reading the poem “My Cousin’s New Paint Set” by Laura Numeroff.
This poem is about a girl whose cousin gets a new paint set and the
creations she makes with it. I wonder what all she will create! Let’s read to
find out! Now close your eyes and listen and picture while I read.
3. Okay! Since we have had some practice visualizing now, we are going to start
reading our chapter book Esperanza Rising. This book is about a girl named
Esperanza who lives in Mexico. She lives on a beautiful vineyard and her life is
really wonderful until something happens to her father. Now her mother and her
are struggling to survive. We are going to have to read the book to find out
what happens to Esperanza and her mother. Since you’ve been doing so well
visualizing I am going to let you do it on your own! Lets read the first chapter
on our own in our heads. Remember to make the pictures in your head as you are
reading! At the end of the chapter I want you to draw what you visualized,
either what you think Esperanza would look like or her house. Draw with details
and draw what you pictured in your mind. When everyone finishes we will share
with the class what we have drawn.
Assessment:
The teacher can assess the level of the student’s understanding of the task of
visualizing by collecting the pictures the students drew. Have the students
write what an explanation of what they pictured in their heads. Ask questions to
make sure the students know about the characters, setting, and what is going on
in the story. Students can also answer some comprehension questions to make sure
they really understand what they are reading:
1. What is the big celebration Esperanza is looking forward to?
2. What was the thing that ruined Esperanza’s family?
3. Name 2 things that would describe Esperanza.
4. How would you describe Esperanza’s life in the beginning?
Johnson, Holly. “Finally I See It!”
http://www.auburn.edu/academic/education/reading_genie/awakenings/johnsonhrl.htm
Numeroff, Laura. “Sometimes I
Wonder if Poodles Like Noodles”. Scholastic Inc. New York. 2000.
Ryan, Pam Muñoz. “Esperanza
Rising.” Scholastic Inc. New York. 2000.