Visualization in Correspondence with Reading

As we continue You Gotta BE the Book, Jeffrey Wilhelm talks about his experiences and his methods regarding individual students and their experiences regarding reading. In the fifth chapter Wilhelm focuses on the use of visualization when it comes to engaging struggling readers. He focuses on three individual students who prefer artistic outlets. Wilhelm describes this need for visualization as the inability to "see anything when they read, and that therefore they could not experience and think about what they had read". Students often struggle with mental visualization of what has been read. Wilhelm states that "teachers nor materials seem to emphasize visualization in reading as an important element of active reading, comprehension, comprehension monitoring, and response." Its clear that to help certain understand/comprehend material visualization needs to incorporated.

Art education as stated in the book needs greater attention. According to research conducted art education can "1) increase the variety and depth of meaning people can secure in their lives, 2) develop cognitive potential, which is achieved through the exercise of various opportunities and, 3 achieve educational equity." Wilhelm approached visualization in his own way. He let students read comic books, and picture books in contrast to novel. I think the use of graphic novels and comic books in the classroom is a great way to grab the attention of hesitant readers. As a teacher I think that visualization can also be worked in with projects to show comprehension. Students could turn a play or novel into a children's book in order to visual and show understanding.

Teaching is about understanding your students. Using visualization in the classroom will have a greater impact on some more than others. visualization will be helpful to some so finding the right amount visualization activities. If some students benefit from the activities more than others then they can apply techniques on their own in order to understand the readings.