An Important Step in the Writing Process

Visualizing, or imaging.....We do it all the time!  

 Both are terms referring to the act of making mental pictures in your mind.

We are visualizing when we read a book 

and picture the characters and events.  

We are visualizing when we listen to oral directions

and see what we need to do in our minds.  

We are visualizing when we daydream 

and fantasize about our upcoming vacation 

or what we want for Christmas this year. 

 Most of this imaging is so automatic that we are hardly aware of it.  Bringing it to a level of consciousness, however, can allow us to use the skill in a variety of ways you may not have thought about.  For example-writing!!

Has your child ever sat staring at a blank sheet of paper 

and complained about not knowing what to write? 

 Visualizing what you plan to write is actually one of the most important steps of the writing process.  If you can clearly see in your mind's eye a scene or event, you will be better able to write about it.  The more detail you have in your imagery, the more descriptive your writing can become.  You just have to think about what you see and put it into words on the paper.

The next time your child is having difficulty with writing, encourage them to visualize the topic and then incorporate those images into their work.  They should include colors, shape, size, and other details they imagine.  This simple yet often overlooked step can help your child to become a better writer and make the whole process easier and more enjoyable!