Visualizing
Educator Definition:
Readers create images in their minds that reflect or represent the ideas in the text. These images may include any of the five senses and serve to enhance understanding of the text.
Readers create images in their minds that reflect or represent the ideas in the text. These images may include any of the five senses and serve to enhance understanding of the text.
Student Definition:
Create a movie in my mind while I'm reading.
To practice visualizing, students use computer drawing tools to create a series of images that they see in their mind as they read a given text. Learners also select music to
represent each part of the text. Students may choose between six passages including fiction, non-fiction, poetry, a math story problem, a voicemail or a musical selection.
Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts
This activity meets the following grade 3 Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts:
Print Version (PDF)
Foundational Skills
Phonics and Word Recognition
3.RF.3
Know and apply grade-level phonics and word analysis skills in decoding words.
- Decode multisyllable words.
Fluency
3.RF.4
Read with sufficient accuracy and fluency to support comprehension.
- Read grade-level text with purpose and understanding.
- Use context to confirm or self-correct word recognition and understanding, rereading as necessary.
Literature
Craft and Structure
3.RL.4
Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, distinguishing literal from nonliteral language.
Integration of Knowledge and Ideas
3.RL.7
Explain how specific aspects of a text's illustrations contribute to what is conveyed by the words in a story (e.g., create mood, emphasize aspects of a character or setting).
Range of Reading and Level of Text Complexity
3.RL.10
By the end of the year, read and comprehend informational texts, including history/social studies, science, and technical texts, at the high end of the grades 2-3 text complexity band independently
and proficiently.
Informational Text
Craft and Structure
3.RI.4
Determine the meaning of general academic and domain-specific words and phrases in a text relevant to a grade 3 topic or subject area.
Integration of Knowledge and Ideas
3.RI.7
Use information gained from illustrations (e.g., maps, photographs) and the words in a text to demonstrate understanding of the text (e.g., where, when, why, and how key events occur).
3.RI.8
Describe the logical connection between particular sentences and paragraphs in a text (e.g., comparison, cause/effect, first/second/third in a sequence).
Range of Reading and Level of Text Complexity
3.RI.10
By the end of the year, read and comprehend informational texts, including history/social studies, science, and technical texts, at the high end of the grades 2-3 text complexity band
independently and proficiently.
Language
Vocabulary Acquisition and Use
3.L.4
Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning words and phrases based on grade 3 reading and content, choosing flexibly from a range of strategies.
- Use sentence-level context as a clue to the meaning of a word or phrase.
Speaking and Listening
Comprehension and Collaboration
3.SL.2
Determine the main ideas and supporting details of a text read aloud or information presented in diverse media and formats, including visually, quantitatively, and orally.
Download these short, lesson plans to practice the strategy.
Artistic Response (PDF)
Gallery Images (PDF)
Guided Imagery (PDF)
Story Wheel (PDF)
Think Aloud (PDF)
Gallery Images (PDF)
Guided Imagery (PDF)
Story Wheel (PDF)
Think Aloud (PDF)
Visualizing Booklist
Alarcón, Franciso X. Iguanas in the Snow and Other Winter Poems / Iguanas en la nieve y otros poemas de invierno. Illustrated by Maya Christina Gonzalez. Children's Book Press, 2001. 32 pages
Banks, Kate. And If the Moon Could Talk. Illustrated by Georg Hallensleban. Frances Foster Books / Farrar, Straus and Gioux, 1998. 40 pages
Davies, Nicola. One Tiny Turtle. Illustrated by Jane Chapman. Candlewick Press, 2002. 32 pages
Karas, G. Brian. Atlantic. Putnam, 2002. 32 pages
Hopkins, Lee Bennett. Weather: Poems for All Seasons. Illustrated by Melanie Hall. (An I Can Read Book) HarperCollins, 1994. 64 pages
Medearis, Angela Shelf. Our People. Illustrated by Michael Bryant. Atheneum, 1994. 32 pages
Miller, Sara Swan. Three Stories You Can Read to Your Cat. Illustrated by True Kelley. Houghton Mifflin, 1997. 48 pages
Perkins, Lynne Rae. Snow Music. Greenwillow, 2003. 36 pages
Schaefer, Lola M. What's Up? What's Down? Illustrated by Barbara Bash. Greenwillow Books, 2002. 32 pages
Schertle, Alice. Down the Road. Illustrated by E.B. Lewis. Browndeer Press, 1995. 40 pages
Stock, Catherine. Gugu's House. Clarion, 2001. 32 pages
Updike, John. A Child's Calendar. Illustrated by Trina Schart Hyman. Holiday House, 1999. 32 pages
Wetterer, Margaret K. and Charles M. The Snow Walker. Illustrated by Mary O'Keefe Young. Carolrhoda, 1996. 56 pages
Into the Book has nine 15-minute educational videos that help teach children how to use eight different reading strategies.
In this episode, In this episode, Mrs. Pingel's students are introduced to the strategy of visualizing in their music class, and then explore the process further during a small group guided reading lesson. Using his five senses to visualize makes the story so real for Trent students that he is drawn literally "into the book." Thanks to his new understanding of the strategy, he is able to help a character in the story get out of a bind. Later, he applies the strategy to solve a problem of his own at home.
Watch the Full Video
Video Clips
Learn about Visualizing
Practice Visualizing
Apply the Strategy