My friend, Mike Wagner, asked a great question on a recent post regarding visuals in nonfiction.
We live in a visual world. As I help students become more visually literate, I use a technique called "masking the print." Students are used to reading fiction or narrative text where the "story" carries the meaning. In nonfiction, big ideas are communicated visually.
Authors articulate their important points and messages through image, diagram, layout, and design elements. Any trouble finding the big idea here?
To get students in the habit of "reading" the visuals, I use post it notes to "mask" the print. Comprehension is supported as students survey the texts, using visual information. With the big ideas resonating in their minds, the print and words are "unmasked" and students are able to determine importance with greater efficiency and success.
What are your practices for extracting big ideas?
