Weekly Reading #4

Illuminated text has the potential to support student learning in school. The mental imagery associated with the illuminated text can reinforce verbal representations of words through nonverbal cues.

"A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words" talks about how low-ability readers have difficulty with comprehension because they are so focused on decoding the words and some student can read words fluently but lack the ability to create mental images that relate to the text. The illuminated text activity can offer connections between words and images."Research on mental imagery demonstrates that comprehension of text is enhanced when students are prompted or taught to use mental imagery."

Additionally, illuminated text can hold student interest and motivate struggling readers. "Illustrations frequently sere an affective or motivational function for students. Peeck's (1987) review of the affective-motivational effects of illustrations shows many positive outcomes. Specifically, pictures can make reading a text more enjoyable, result in positive attitudes toward reading in general and toward illustrated text in particular, and can influence the time readers are willing to spend on a text."