visualizing and writing

I really like the part about mind movies as well. It is some important that students are able to visualize what they are reading just as it is so important for students to use descriptive language in their writing. One of the activities that I do with my students for writing is to put a picture on the SMART Board and cover it up in quadrants. The kids then have to use words to describe each part of the quadrant before I show them the entire picture. They have to use what they have learned from each piece of the picture to try and decide what the picture might be. When I read chapter books to my kids during a read aloud, I often have them draw a picture as i read of what they are picturing as I read. I think that it is important they students see the implications that word choice has on what they see and this helps them to use their minds and be creative in what they are doing!!! It also helps to keep them engage as i read aloud to them which can sometimes be difficult for some of my more challenging students.