Knowledge and Skills Statement
During a read aloud, ask students to share what they pictured while listening to a particular section of the text. Expand upon student responses about visual images by asking questions about their mental images.
Possible Questions:
- What do you imagine it sounds like?
- What do you imagine it smells like?
- What did the scene look like to you?
Further Explanation
When students create their own mental images while reading, they need to stop, think about, and visualize content to develop their comprehension. Being able to create accurate mental images is a strong indicator that students understand what they are reading.
Research
Barbe-Clevett, T., Hanley, N., & Sullivan, P. (2002). Improving reading comprehension through metacognitive reflection. (Master theses, Saint Xavier University).
Retrieved from https://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED471067
Summary: This research reports on a plan for increasing 6th grade students' reflection and comprehension skills. The reflective process was developed through four interrelated activities taught in a specific sequence. Post-intervention data shows an increased in reading skills along with an increased emotional involvement in reading.