Classroom Visual Analysis

Teaching language learners can be very challenging but also very rewarding. Each language learner is usually at a different stage in the target language. This can make it difficult for a teacher to find ways to teach all the language learners in ways that will help them individually. According to Julianna Stancamoiano (2013) visuals, help learners grasp a concept because it allows the learner to “see” what they are learning. There are many ways to incorporate visuals in the classroom, you can use physical cues, pictures, image, graphics, and charts. These things will help the student visualize information. Ortiz and Grimes from Annenberg Learner (2016)(have stated that: “when students create a symbolic visual representation, they build higher-level …show more content…
There are many visual maps or thinking maps that can help language learners organize their thoughts. There are several types of thinking maps that learners can use: circle map, flow map, double bubble map, tree map, brace, multi-flow map, and bridge map. These thinking maps can be useful not only for writing purposes but for math, science, and social studies as well. “Apply across all subjects and grade-levels.” (“Lacfstars”) In math class, a learner can use a graphic organizer when going over real numbers; they can compare rational numbers and irrational numbers. In a science class, you can use an organization map while working on a topic like kinetic and potential energy. Thinking maps are visuals and “By visualizing out thinking, we create concrete images of abstract thoughts. These patterns help all students reach higher levels of critical and creative thinking.” (West, 2014) Over all thinking maps are great ways to help a language learners not only view the distinctions about what they are learning but will also be able to see how they are alike as well. The thinking maps are also ways in which you can “address all four language domains: listening, speaking, reading, and writing.” (Buckner