Being Visual: Raising a Generation of Innovative Thinkers

by Bette Fetter

Is your creative, intelligent, vibrant child struggling in school? Did you have a similar experience when you were in school? You or your child may be visual learners. In a test heavy education system, more and more children are underachieving, feeling lost and misunderstood. Because, schools are focused on teaching left-brain auditory learners and our right-brain visual kids are not getting what they need to succeed. In Being Visual , Bette Fetter, the founder of Young Rembrandts, discusses strategies to increase your visual learner's success in school, identifying how... - To use pictures to improve grades
- To use visual study techniques
- To use effective writing strategies
- To apply visual methods for students with ADD, dyslexia and autism
- Why drawing, doodling and imagery improves learning
- How art improves education outcomes
Fetter also presents a fresh case for art class as a critical must-have for students dependent on their visual skills to learn. For over 20 Years, Young Rembrandts has helped tens of thousands of visual-spatial students reach their potential in the arts as well as the classroom. Training in the technical skills of art provides tools for creative endeavors, while developing essential visual skills and learning activities in all children.

Genres: Nonfiction, Education, Art

195 pages, Paperback

First published August 28, 2012

About the author

Bette Fetter, Founder and CEO of Young Rembrandts, Inc., began her career as a professional artist with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Northern Illinois University. Through her education, participation in various forms of the arts and experience with Montessori education, Bette gained first-hand understanding of the value of the arts on developing young minds.
Her passion for the arts and early childhood education led Bette to develop Young Rembrandts, a unique teaching methodology focused on developing foundational art and drawing skills in young children. Bette franchised her business, and what began 24 years ago with eight kids at her kitchen table now reaches tens of thousands of children nationally and internationally.
While writing Being Visual, Fetter received her MBA from Roosevelt University in Chicago, Illinois. Fetter is the President of Brilliant Arts, a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide and support arts programs for children that aid in the development of neural and cognitive learning skills. Bette has four adult children and lives with her husband in Illinois. For more information on Young Rembrandts, or to enroll your child in classes, visit www.youngrembrandts.com.
Overall, Fetter’s mission is to reach children and adults alike in order to “raise generations that value the power, the passion and the significance of art.”

Reviews

[Lenore Webb · Rating 5 out of 5]

You see JD is a Visual Learner. She can see something and it sticks for her. Her skills for memorizing is amazing when she sees the same thing over and over again. I first noticed this when she was little and would watch videos. In no time at all she was able to do a whole show verbatim even telling us the actions as well as the dialog. That must be why she was such a great Theater major.

Bette Fetter has helped many visual learners. With JD having ADD it is very noticeable that she depends on visual skills to learn. Being a right brain thinker guides her to the arts but it also what helps guide future scientists, engineers and mathematicians. Visual students, however, are struggling in a test-heavy education system that favors left-brain linear thinkers. I love that Bette Fetter has presented a case for art classes being a must have so that students can use those skills to develop and strengthen visual learners.

Being Visual is a great tool to help your own Young Rembrandt. Sharing tools so that your child can gain these skills.

Fine motor skills (handwriting)
Attention to detail and focus
Process, order and completion
Visual discrimination
Time on task
Visual-spatial organization skills
Sequencing
Expanded image vocabulary
Persistence and follow through
Patience, discipline and manners
Increased self esteem and confidence

JD may not have the best art skills. But when she draws out her ideas, lays out her plans to see and looks at them daily, she achieves what she sets out to do. We have been blessed that she has had Theater in college to help her visualize complete ideas. And that she is such an avid role play writer. Again it is being able to see, draw, write and create that helps her learn.

Thanks so to Bette Fetter for sharing her book Being Visual with us. I let JD see it so she could use the ideas within to help her in her next steps of life. It must be great for she will not even let me borrow it here at home. She says the book stays at her loft. Bette that must be equal to two thumbs up!

[Dana · Rating 3 out of 5]

This author breaks people down into two learning styles - left brain thinking, known as auditory-sequential thinking and right brain thinking known as visual-spatial. The author feels that in general, schools teach to the left-brain with lessons given auditorially and sequentially. She feels that teaching art and teaching more visually can help visual learners in many ways.
She advocates use of graphic organizers - which many schools are using a lot now and I, not being a visual learner, despise. I do think that art education is important and that we should teach in ways that will reach children with all sorts of learning styles. The author created a program called the Young Rembrandts art program and she tells about her program in the book. I received this book free to reveiw from Netgalley.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good information. I can relate a lot of this to my son. Had to skim over some of it, but a good read. I want to learn more about the Young Rembrandt program now and perhaps implement it with my son who is on the spectrum.

[Angela]

Good stuff in this book, but just can't get through it right now....

[Margaret Chind · Rating 5 out of 5]

TBW

[Debby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Being Visual is an eye-opening and empowering guide for parents and educators of visual learners. Bette Fetter provides practical, effective strategies that truly make a difference for children who struggle in traditional classrooms. From study techniques to the importance of art, this book is both inspiring and actionable a must read for unlocking a child’s full potential.