The Real Mental Map

The Real Mental Map

1. Self Study Question: Content Knowledge-What are the different aspects of visualizing and how does it enhance comprehension?

   • Readers sense what is being read and this is based on background knowledge
   • Smells, tastes, and feels, and emotions as well
   • Creates mental images of characters, events and/or ideas
   • Readers visualize to deepen understanding of text, making the text memorable and leading to inferences
   • "Schema is what you know, it's what you're thinking" - Madi. We use schema to help us to help us connect what we see (visualize) and what we already know to to help us enhance our comprehension.
   • Making Connections- When students make connections between content, prior knowledge, personal events, or some relatable thing.

2. Self Study Question: Pedagogical Knowledge- How do you help kids visualize concepts?

   • Teachers can use mental maps, graphs, charts, tables, and anything else to help students to visualize what the are learning
   • Help students to paint a very vivid picture in their heads by using very explicit and expressive instruction.
   • Allow students to draw pictures that help them to retell a story and be able to put on paper what they were visualizing while reading/ listening tothe book
   • Inferring- this is where readers are challenged to think beyond what is the literal meaning of the text to derive what is not there

3. Self Study Question: Knowledge of Diversity- How do I embrace and capitalize on diversity in a way to help ELL kids visualize and other comprehension strategies?

   • One of the first steps to get ELL students connect visualization to comprehension is early intervention. If we can catch it early enough then we can start working with the students on their specific individual needs.
   • If we are able to have student interviews then that would be a great way to start off and know what level the student is on. It will also tell us if the parents/guardians speak any english at home or if they just speak their native language.