1. Visual Literacy
How Looking at visual art can strengthen your students’ reading comprehension skills

2. An Aspect of Arts Integration
Visual Literacy
An Aspect of Arts Integration
Students practice the same skills when “reading” a work of art that they do when reading a verbal text

3. An Aspect of Arts Integration
Visual Literacy
An Aspect of Arts Integration
Students practice the same skills when “reading” a work of art that they do when reading a verbal text
Just like reading texts is part of learning in all subjects, reading images and objects can be, as well.

4. An Aspect of Arts Integration
Visual Literacy
An Aspect of Arts Integration
Students practice the same skills when “reading” a work of art that they do when reading a verbal text
Just like reading texts is part of learning in all subjects, reading images and objects can be, as well.
Side bonus, you’ll usually get the chance to introduce or assess content knowledge, as well.

5. What do readers do?

6. What do readers do? Ask questions Make predictions Clarify details
Evaluate the art and their understanding of it
What do readers do?

7. What do readers do? make inferences Ask questions Make predictions
Clarify details
Evaluate the art and their understanding of it
What do readers do?
Connect to
Self
Current events
Prior learning
Other images or texts
make inferences

8. What does the facilitator do?

9. What does the facilitator do?
Only ask THREE QUESTIONS:
What’s going on in this picture?
What more can we find?
What do you see that makes you say that?
What does the facilitator do?

10. What does the facilitator do?
Only ask THREE QUESTIONS:
What’s going on in this picture?
What more can we find?
What do you see that makes you say that?
What does the facilitator do?

11. Visual Thinking Strategies a guided looking technique
In addition to the three questions, practice these behaviors to ensure success:
Gesture to the areas of the artwork to which students refer
—confirming that the group is looking at the same thing.
—keeping discussion tied to the work.
—validating and encouraging input.

12. Visual Thinking Strategies a guided looking technique
In addition to the three questions, practice these behaviors to ensure success:
Paraphrase student responses
—validating and encouraging input.
Tie comments together
—encouraging listening and collaborating, or debate!
Return questions to the group
—placing the image as the teacher, the “answerer.”

13. Visual Thinking Strategies a guided looking technique
In addition to the three questions, practice these behaviors to ensure success:
Withhold judgement!
Validate all responses equally.
Students must feel safe.
This exercise can feel like a “trap” if responses are criticized or critiqued by you. Let it play out.
Trust the process, the art, and your learners.

14. Artful Thinking Routines more guided looking techniques

15. Artful Thinking Routines more guided looking techniques
Beginning/Middle/End and Looking: Ten Times Two are examples

16. Artful Thinking Routines more guided looking techniques
Beginning/Middle/End and Looking: Ten Times Two are examples
Can spark inferential thinking, like VTS, or other modes of critical thinking

17. Artful Thinking Routines more guided looking techniques
Beginning/Middle/End and Looking: Ten Times Two are examples
Can spark inferential thinking, like VTS, or other modes of critical thinking
Foster close looking, slow observation, first-hand interpretation

18. Artful Thinking Routines more guided looking techniques
Beginning/Middle/End and Looking: Ten Times Two are examples
Can spark inferential thinking, like VTS, or other modes of critical thinking
Foster close looking, slow observation, first-hand interpretation
Designed to be so simple that they become second nature—routine.

19. Artful Thinking Routines more guided looking techniques
Beginning/Middle/End and Looking: Ten Times Two are examples
Can spark inferential thinking, like VTS, or other modes of critical thinking
Foster close looking, slow observation, first-hand interpretation
Designed to be so simple that they become second nature—routine.
Work with art, maps, charts, diagrams, sample math problems, bugs, rocks, leaves, poems…

20. But we are adults…

21. Visual Literacy
In the GSE…

22. Visual Literacy
In the GSE…

23. Visual Literacy
In the GSE…

24. Visual Literacy
In the GSE…

25. Visual Literacy
In the GSE…

26. Visual Literacy
In the GSE…

27. How do we fit this in? Let’s see…
How can guided looking become a regular part of our teaching?
When does it fit in our existing units?
Where does it connect to our curricula?
Let’s see…

28. Artist Name:
 Howard Finster Nationality & Life Dates:
 American, 1916–2001 Title:
 George Washington, #6, 903 Date:
 1987

29. Artist Name:
 Ernest Withers Nationality & Life Dates:
 American, 1922–2007 Title:
 First Desegregated Bus Ride, Montgomery, AL, Dec Date:
 1956 Medium:
 Gelatin silver print

30. Artist Name:
 Thomas Cole Nationality & Life Dates:
 American, born England 1801–1848 Title:
 The Tempest Date:
 ca Medium:
 Oil on panel Dimensions:
 18 3/4 x 26 inches 

31. Artist Name:
 Gorham Manufacturing Company Nationality & Life Dates:
 Providence, Rhode Island, established 1831 Title:
 Ice Bowl Date:
 1871

32. Artist Name:
 Martin Johnson Heade Nationality & Life Dates:
 American, 1819–1904 Title:
 Two Hummingbirds with an Orchid Date:
 1875 Medium:
 Oil on canvas Dimensions:
 17 9/16 x 27 1/2 inches 

33. Consider The High YOUR Resource!
Our permanent collection is yours to utilize
High.org
Permanent collection images
Tour-specific teacher resources
Special exhibition images and resources for teachers

34. Consider The High YOUR Resource!
Our permanent collection is yours to utilize
Google Arts and Culture
Virtual Exhibitions
More permanent collection images
Works from institutions around the world

35. Guided Reading Resources
Artful Thinking

36. Guided Reading Resources
Visual Thinking Strategies