What does visualising mean?

Visualising while reading means readers construct meaning by creating pictures in their mind as they read. Visualising supports the development of a broad understanding of a text. It is closely linked to inferring meaning using pictures rather than words. As with inferring, readers merge images with background knowledge to make meaning. When students visualise texts their level of engagement with texts is increased

Strategies

Teachers extend and deepen visualisation as a comprehension strategy by guiding the generation of images and developing visual arts and drama activities. These strategies are closely linked to listening.

Students use their imagination. Well crafted picture books help to teach the strategy.

Fict ion Texts

Visualising with Wordless Picture Books

Teacher and students share a story through pictures. At an appropriate time children stop and draw what happens between two pictures. Children can compare pictures recognising that we bring our own schema to this task.

Visualising with a Vivid Word Pictures

In this strategy readers take words from vivid descriptions and link them with background knowledge to create pictures.

Non-fiction Texts

Showing, not telling in writing

Nonfiction texts often rely on visuals to making meaning clear. Concepts of size, length, distance, time are used to explain information. Many of these concepts may be outside children’s experience. Verbs and nouns often carry key information. Re-reading while children close their eyes helps to cement images. A written summary of comments provides the teacher with an understanding of what students visualise.

Year 1 / Year 2 and 3 / Year 4 and 5 / Year 6 and 7
Visualise aspects of a texts e.g. visualise a character n a text / Visualise texts e.g. use visualisation to build a mental picture of details of a character in a text / Visualise texts e.g. use visualisation to build a mental picture of details of a character, scene or concept in a text / Visualise concepts in text e.g. use visualisation to clarify impressions and inform inferences of characters or concepts

2008 Draft Reading and Viewing Document from Ann Turner’s Workshop

Strategies that Work, Stephanie Harvey and Ann Goudvis, Stenhouse 2007