Dual Code Theory
The Dual Coding Theory emphasis's the importance of building semantic knowledge through visual images and real-world experience. It is relevant to our modern society as it stresses the importance of visual images and focusing on real-world experiences. We are living in an increasingly visual world so this theory is great for getting your students to build visuals inside their heads to construct meaning and then reflect and adapt the visuals they have. It is an important theory as 'mental imagery forms an important aspect of context by representing knowledge of the world' (Saoski & Paivio,2013). Using this theory can help students become effective readers as it involves students constantly reflecting and asapting their interpretation and understandings of the text.
The Green Giant poem can be used to help students understand the importance of creating mental images whilst reading. Emphasis the importance of visualising by reading a book and explicitly talking about the pictures that are popping into your head as you read. Introduce the Green Giant poem and read the poem to the class reminding the students to visualise the Green Giant as they listen. Give all the students a copy of the poem and ask them to read and then draw what they imagined the Giant to look like. When students have finished allow share time and encourage discussion on why everyone's pictures look different.
picture sourced from: http://mrswilliamsonskinders.blogspot.com.au/2011/04/mental-images.html
picture sourced from: http://mrswilliamsonskinders.blogspot.com.au/2011/04/mental-images.html
Little class tips
Do you read a novel with all of your class? When students are listening to you read allow them to draw pictures that reflect the mental images that they have created. This not only helps to engage the students but it will also help their understanding of the book. Students should also be encouraged to do this for take home readers.
Choose a fruit and Cerel novel that has been turned into a movie. Read the novel to the class encouraging students to visualise whilst listening. After reading the book watch the movie as a class. Disscuss the similarities and differences between what the students imagined and the movie.
Do you read a novel with all of your class? When students are listening to you read allow them to draw pictures that reflect the mental images that they have created. This not only helps to engage the students but it will also help their understanding of the book. Students should also be encouraged to do this for take home readers.
Choose a fruit and Cerel novel that has been turned into a movie. Read the novel to the class encouraging students to visualise whilst listening. After reading the book watch the movie as a class. Disscuss the similarities and differences between what the students imagined and the movie.