Page 96 - EdViewptsSpring2021

1. What is going on/happening in grade student who, when first viewing
this picture? the image of A Child’s Bath, told a Students also
2. What do you see that makes you literal story about someone falling in developed their
say that? the mud and needing a bath. After six capacity to back
3. What more can you/we find? lessons in Visual Thinking Strategies
Second grade students participated (VTS), this same student reflected on up their opinions
Charles Ephraim Burchfield’s (1893–
in VTS lessons from October through 1967) Autumnal Fantasy and said he with evidence, have
May. At the end of the school year, could “hear the birds cheeping.” The their own opinions
students’ writing scores were analyzed good news is that research has shown
for growth comparing their beginning the ability to make inferences via influenced by others,
of the year writing assessment to images transfers to making inferences and became more
their end of year assessment, utilizing in other areas such as text. comfortable listening
Lucky Calkins’ Writing Pathways
writing rubric. The same analysis was Students also developed their to diverse opinions.
completed with writing samples from capacity to back up their opinions
students in a second grade class, with evidence, have their own This finding should inform educators
which did not participate in VTS opinions influenced by others, and as to the type of images displayed
lessons. Anecdotal records were also became more comfortable listening in elementary schools. Elementary
kept to document students’ evolution to diverse opinions. The question, schools tend to be replete with realistic
in thinking. “what do you see that makes you and representational images, likely

The results indicated many benefits say that?” forced students to provide by design of the adults in the building
specific reasons for their opinions.
of developing visual literacy in Engaging in the exercise of backing who assume these images are
students. These include stronger use up opinions with evidence has been better suited to students. It would be
of words when writing a narrative shown to transfers to other academic beneficial to students to include more
and improvement in higher order endeavors. Additionally, listening to abstract images in the hallways of
thinking, such as making inferences. others opinions, and becoming more elementary schools.
In addition, students developed their comfortable with listening to diverse Improvement in students’ visual
ability to form opinions, back up their points of view, are quite relevant in literacy, and all the benefits that go
opinions with evidence, influence today’s social climate and are skills along with it, can be accomplished
others' opinions and have their necessary for students to engage in a with small changes in curriculum
own thinking influenced. Students civil society. and instruction. Incorporating as
also demonstrated more comfort little as 30 minutes a month to
with diverse points of view and an Another benefit of exposure to VTS facilitate Visual Thinking Strategies
improvement in their listening skills. lessons was the improvement in lessons will have positive outcomes
Students became stronger in their students’ listening skills. During the for students. Resources to support
first few lessons, students had a
use of word choice in their writing, difficult time viewing for more than VTS are already available in schools
especially students for whom English a few seconds. Over time, they such as images found in children’s
is not their first language. The became more patient viewers and literature. More resources are also
increased exposure to oral language demonstrated an ability to view for available at VTSHome.org to assist
during the VTS discussion played a longer and longer periods without teachers with facilitating lessons and
part in this development. As educators insisting on speaking. Indeed, selecting images. Investing some time
know, exposure to a language rich Yenawine describes the listening to increase students’ abilities to make
environment is key to supporting skills of second graders as a nascent more sense of what they see is a
language development. Additionally, behavior and something with which worthwhile exercise. Elliot Eisner has
Yenawine claims exposure to peer they struggle and states, “The said, “Children who do not learn to see
level conversation, as opposed to importance of listening is hard to will not be able to write, not because
adult conversation, plays an important overestimate”. This is something with they cannot spell, but because they
4
5
role in helping English learners which most elementary educators have nothing to say.” A little effort
develop their language skills as would agree. Improved listening will go a long way to help students
students are exposed to language that skills would benefit students in many develop their skills in viewing and
is within their reach developmentally. aspects of their lives. become better writers and thinkers.
3
Peer level conversations are a large
part of VTS lessons. Most interesting was the finding that
VTS lessons also supported students’ abstract images, more than realistic
or representational images, better
ability to make inferences. Consider enabled students to make inferences
the evolution in thinking of this second
and use higher level thinking skills.

Educational Viewpoints -94- Spring 2021