I See What You Mean: Visual Literacy K-8

by Steve Moline

Some educators may view diagrams, pictures, and charts as nice add-on tools for students who are visual thinkers. But Steve Moline sees visual literacy as fundamental to learning and to what it means to be human. In Moline's view, we are all bilingual. Our second language, which we do not speak but which we read and write every day, is visual. From reading maps to decoding icons to using concept webs, visual literacy is critical to success in today's world.

The first edition of I See What You Mean, published in 1995, was one of the first books for teachers to outline practical strategies for improving students' visual literacy. In this new and substantially revised edition, Steve continues his pioneering role by including dozens of new examples of a wide range of visual texts--from time maps and exploded diagrams to digital tools like smartphone apps and "tactile texts." In addition to the new chapters and nearly 200 illustrations, Steve has reorganized the book in a useful teaching sequence, moving from simple to complex texts.

In one research strategy, called recomposing, Steve shows how to summarize paragraphs of information not as a heap of "interesting facts" but as a diagram. The diagram can then work as a framework for students to follow when writing an essay. This overcomes the teacher's problem of "cut and paste" essays, and, by following their own diagram-summary, students have an answer to their familiar questions, "Where do I start? What do I write next?

272 pages, Paperback

First published November 28, 2011

Reviews

[Natasha Jesmer]

I strongly believe in using visuals to aid a students learning. In Moline's text he expresses exactly how important it is to teach students how to interpret and read visuals. Learning to use and read visuals accurately will be a necessary and helpful for all students not just within school but also in their everyday life. My goal as a teacher is to prepare my students for the real world and take tasks with them that they will be able to hold on to and use in the future. Visuals play a big part in helping students understand particular words or meanings. Especially for English Language Learners, visuals are key. Visuals help to create a better understanding in all subject areas, and Moline describes exactly how different visuals can aid a student's understanding. There are particular visuals we will use in order to get a specific point across, not all venn diagrams will suit the topic you are trying to explain. We have to chose visuals wisely.

[Alicia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well organized with practical applications for the classroom. Easy read with numerous entry points.