Using Non-Linguistic Representations

 

Knowledge is stored in two forms - a linguistic form and an imagery form. The more we use both forms the better we are able to think about and recall knowledge. Studies show teachers primarily use linguistic representations to present new information (talking about content and reading content). The non-linguistic form is the imagery mode of representation; primarily mental pictures and physical sensations. Using non-linguistic representations will help students increase knowledge with mental images.
 
Marzano's recommendations for classroom practice include:
  • creating graphic representations through organizers
  • making physical models
  • generating mental pictures
  • drawing pictures and pictographs
  • engaging in kinesthetic activities

Technology Integration:
 

Using graphic representations (organizers)
Kidspiration and Inspiration are excellent software programs for creating graphic organizers.  Marzano suggests using the following types of graphic organizers because they are the six most common patterns in organizing information.  Encourage students to use pictures as well as words when completing the organizers.
 
Pattern types:  (Click to download templates)

  • descriptive patterns - represent facts about specific persons, places, things, and events
 

  • time-sequence patterns - organize events in a specific chronological order
 

  • process/cause-effect patterns - organize information into a casual network leading to a specific outcome or into a sequence of steps leading to a specific product
 

  • episode patterns - organize information about specific events including a setting, people, a specific duration, a sequence of events, and a cause and effect

 
 

  • generalization/principle patterns - organize information into general statements with supporting examples

 
 

  • concept patterns - organize information around a word or phrase that represents entire classes or categories of persons, places, things and events

 

Generating mental pictures
Visualizing is an important strategy students need to use when reading or learning new content.  Using digital cameras, MovieMaker, United Streaming, KidPix, Inspiration and Kidspiration are a few resources to help students create mental images by stimulating their thinking. 

The following visualizing project will help students practice generating mental pictures.  (Credit for original project given to Eric Postman.)  The visualization project is a five day project that incorporates reading and rereading of a story, visualizing images, sequencing events, retelling the story, and illustrating the retelling of the story.  The project is intending to be used with a picture book that contains a strong sequence.  Daily project details are listed below.
 
  • Day 1 - classroom
    • Teacher shows visualization PowerPoint to class
    • First reading of story without illustrations (illustrations are not shown to class until the end of the project)
 
  • Day 2 - computer lab
    • Students view story in PowerPoint format and reread story together
    • Students use KidPix or other drawing program to illustrate one event from the story
    • Students take story home to reread for homework with parent/guardian (Word document)
 
  • Day 3 - computer lab
    • Class reviews story sequence together
    • Students use Inspiration or Kidspiration to sequence events of story (sample)
 
  • Day 4 - classroom
    • Students retell story while teacher types retell into Word document using projector, class edits when necessary
 
  • Day 5 - classroom or computer lab
    • Students are given book pages from the class retelling of story to illustrate (or students use KidPix to illustrate pages)
    • Student pages are scanned and made into a PowerPoint show for classroom computers
 

Drawing pictures and pictographs
Using programs such as KidPix, Inspiration, Kidspiration, and Excel give students the opportunity to draw pictures or create pictographs (symbols) to represent ideas, events, places or objects. 

Some ways students can use drawing pictures and creating pictographs to enhance their learning are:

  • illustrate a process (life cycles, writing process, solve an equation, science concept, government process, etc.)
  • create a story web
  • make a map
  • create pictographs for math (sample)
The following project is one example using the writing process.  After reading a story about two boys who created an invention, students were given the opportunity to create their own inventions.  There were three parts to the process:
  • Part 1 -
    • Students created a picture of their invention using KidPix
    • Pictures were exported and saved as .jpg picture files
 
  • Part 2 -
    • Students created a web using Kidspiration showing what the invention could do
    • Pictures were exported and saved as .jpg picture files
 
  • Part 3 -
    • Students used a Publisher template to write a paragraph about their invention
    • The picture and web graphics were inserted into the Publisher file to create a card (sample)
 
 

Engaging in kinesthetic activities and Making physical models
A mental picture is created in a student's mind when they use role play with physical movement.  Creating movies with video and still digital photos reinforces the mental picture as students view them over and over again.  Use software programs such as MovieMaker and PhotoStory to create movies.

Some examples includes:

  • Math manipulatives
  • Body math (illustrate angles, geometric shapes, multiplication, ordinal numbers, etc.)
  • Role-playing historical events or story events
  • A Living Alphabet
  • Illustrate science concepts (earth cycles, food chains, weather, etc.)
  • Claymation
  • Acting out reader's theaters
 
Home  |  1-Similarities & Differences  |  2-Summarizing & Note-Taking  |  3-Effort & Recognition
4-Homework & Practice  |  5-Non-Linguistics Representations  |  6-Cooperative Learning
7-Objectives & Feedback  |  8-Hypotheses  |  9-Questions, Cues, & Adv. Organizers

created by Sherri Miller, ITRT, Gloucester County Public Schools
VSTE Conference ~ February, 2008