Thursday 17 April 2014

Reading Strategies and Activities

Okay, I am still struggling on a Thursday theme...is it thankful, thrifty, thoughtful, theory, thin down, or just plain thinking?  Ha, I think I will go with thinking because I think about a lot of different topics - always researching, reading and learning.  I guess Thursdays may just become my Thursday Thoughts...then you may see how "scattered" I am! :)

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So for today, let's take a look at visualizing and verbalizing reading strategies:

Reading Comprehension Strategies: Visualizing and Verbalizing
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Rachel_E_Wise]Rachel E Wise

Visualizing and Verbalizing (V/V) is a strategy, created by Nanci Bell, an expert in the treatment of language and literacy disorders, for parents and educators to utilize with children (or adults) who have trouble with reading comprehension.

Many readers can read words and have a developed vocabulary, but still struggle to comprehend sentences or paragraphs. Visualizing and Verbalizing teaches students who struggle with reading comprehension and language processing to build pictures in their minds as they listen to or read text, with the ultimate goal of being able to visualize the main idea or get the whole picture. This is called concept imagery. As Albert Einstein said, "If I can't picture it, I can't understand it."

Here are some signs that your child or student has difficulty processing language and would likely benefit from learning about concept imagery:


No response to verbal explanations
Trouble understanding jokes
Repeatedly asks questions that have already been answered
Misses the main ideas from TV shows or has trouble guessing what might happen, only retaining a few details
Difficulty understanding cause and effect
Trouble paying attention during lectures or conversations
Trouble remembering or following verbal directions
Trouble making sense when talking
Does not express self often, seems quiet much of the time
Can read words fluently but has trouble comprehending what he reads


When reading, the information seems abstract to readers who have trouble processing language. Abstract information can be very difficult to understand so the text goes in one ear and out the other, so to speak. When creating mental images of the text, the reader draws from his own experiences and knowledge (text to self connections) and the meaning becomes meaningful and concrete. This makes it easier to process the information, recall it later, and put the information into one's own words. Additionally, when asked inferential questions about the text (e.g., what do you think will happen next), the reader can refer to his mental image, which will help facilitate his ability to answer these types of questions.

So How Does It Work?
In Visualizing and Verbalizing, readers are first taught to describe real pictures presented in front of them. Once they have mastered the ability to describe real pictures, readers practice describing objects they have seen in their own life, that are not directly in front of them (e.g., their house, a pet, a piece of jewelry, etc.). The teacher asks the students several probing questions to help them describe familiar or personal objects in vivid detail.

After students can accurately describe familiar or personal objects, they are taught to create mental images of simple sentences, paragraphs, and eventually the whole text. The teacher/parent guides the reader to process language visually, and express their images verbally, by asking probing questions about what they imagine from the text. Research suggests that both sides of the brain need to be stimulated and engaged in order to make sense of reading, and that is exactly what this process does.

This article highlights the foundations of the Visualizing and Verbalizing Strategy. You can find more specific instructions on teaching this technique in the Visualizing and Verbalizing manual by Nanci Bell. (Link found below)

The Visualizing and Verbalizing manual provides the theory and specific steps to develop concept imagery, the ability to create images from language. It describes the important questioning techniques to help students visualize language and verbalize what they have imagined. This imagery-language connection is essential for oral and written language comprehension, as well as critical thinking.

Keep in mind that every child is different. Some respond to several strategies, others respond to a few, while others may not respond to any of the strategies you try. If your child is significantly struggling with reading comprehension or acquiring other academic skills, despite consistent practice and guidance, talk to your child's school and/or doctor. They should be able to refer you to the appropriate professionals to determine what might be interfering with your child's progress and what additional strategies might help.

Remember to always stay calm when working with a child or student, even if you think they should be getting something that they are not getting. If you get frustrated with them, they may start to feel anxious, angry, inferior, stupid, etc. which will lead to a less productive learning session. Keep practice sessions short (5 to 10 minutes for younger children or children who get easily frustrated and 10 to 15 minutes for older children or children who can work for longer periods without frustration), unless the child is eager to keep going.

We are Wise Education and Behavior at [http://educationandbehavior.com/]http://educationandbehavior.com/.

We write weekly articles to support children with reading, writing, spelling, math, and behavior. See all of our articles at http://www.educationandbehavior.com/learningbehavior-strategies/

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Thank you for reading and thank you for supporting kids!

Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Reading-Comprehension-Strategies:-Visualizing-and-Verbalizing&id=8387658] Reading Comprehension Strategies: Visualizing and Verbalizing





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