Visualization For Comprehension
Rationale:
A way for children to learn while reading is to
visualize. Students who do not visualize while reading tend not to
enjoy the
story as much. If students are able to visualize what they are reading,
they
will comprehend more information. This lesson will help students learn
how to
visualize while comprehending.
Procedure:
1.
Have
children sit down, close their eyes and imagine their favorite thing to
do.
Have the children open their eyes and discuss what they imagined.
2.
Next,
read chapter one of The Magic School Bus…Say: “Listen carefully
to what
I read and imagine that you are in the book or Mrs. Frizzle.” After the
chapter
is read have the children discuss. Ask: “What did you see? [wait for
response]
What did the place look like? [wait for response] What else did you
imagine?”
[wait for response].
3.
Say:
“What we did before with our eyes closed and what we just did is called
visualization and is important when we read books with no pictures.”
4.
Say:
“Now I want you to take out your copy of The Magic School Bus…
and read
the chapter two. While you are reading, visualize what is going on.
When you
are done, draw a picture of what you visualized and write two sentences
telling
about your picture. If you were not able to visualize the first time,
read the
chapter again.”
5.
Let
the children show the class their picture and read their summaries.
Teacher can
evaluate the children using their own checklist.
Deleted trivial and redundant information
yes
no
Used classifications
yes
no
Wrote appropriate topic sentence
yes
no
Etc.
Reference:
The
Magic School Bus Chapter Book #1: The Truth About Bats. By Joanna Cole, Scholastic
Books.
"Use Your
Imagination". Reading to Learn Design.: Volandra Holloway. Spring 2004.
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For further information, e-mail Mandy
Williamson.