Graphic displays such as charts, graphs, diagrams, and maps play in important role today in the design and presentation of instructional materials education. There is also a strong need in scientific, technical and administrative fields to visually present facts, laws, principles etc. The increasing use of computer-based learning environments has also become an important field where the visual presentation of information plays a central role. Despite the importance of graphical displays as a means of communication and the fact that research about learning and cognition has advanced rapidly in the past two decades, the comprehension of graphics is still a rather unexplored area. The comprehension of graphics is not only a stimulating topic in the fields of science and instructional psychology, but also in related disciplines such as semiotics, and artificial intelligence. Research on the comprehension of graphics complements the scientific investigation of cognitive processes in text comprehension, which has contributed much to our understanding of human cognition and learning. Ultimately, a better understanding of the cognitive processes involved in the comprehension of graphics will have an impact not only on cognitive theory, but also on educational practice.

58 color reproducible graphic organizers to help your students comprehend any book or piece of literature in a visual way. Our graphic organizers enable readers to see how ideas fit together, and can be used to identify the strengths and weaknesses of your students' thought processes. Our graphic organizers are essential learning tools that will help your students construct meaning and understand what they are reading. They will help you observe your students' thinking process on what you read as a class, as a group, or independently, and can be used for assessment. They include: Story Maps, Plot Development, Character Webs, Predicting Outcomes, Inferencing, Foreshadowing, Characterization, Sequencing Maps, Cause-Effect Timelines, Themes, Story Summaries and Venn Diagrams.

Today's reading standards require K-12 teachers to teach multi-modal texts that combine print and images. Teaching Reading Comprehension with Graphic Texts: An Illustrated Adventure shows teachers how to read, understand, and teach the unique vocabulary and anatomy of the graphic text format alongside traditional, print-based literature and content-area selections.

A collection of nine essays that describes strategies for teaching visual literacy by using graphic novels, comics, anime, political cartoons, and picture books.

The Art of Comprehension' [creates] an invisible thread that stretches across varied professional contexts to connect art, literacy, and all content areas. From the forward by Dr. Mary Howard ' The Art of Comprehension: Exploring Visual Texts to Foster Comprehension, Conversation, and Confidence, Trevor A. Bryan introduces his signature method for enhancing students' understanding and thinking about all textsboth written and visual. By using what he calls 'access lenses (such as faces, body language, sound/silence) you can prompt all your students to became active explorers and meaning-makers. Organically and spontaneously, your classroom will become more student-centered.' ' Discover inventive ways to prompt students to notice, think about, and synthesize visualsusing the same observation and comprehension skills they can bring to reading and writing Learn about ways to unravel layers of meaning in picture books, chapter books, artwork, poetry, and informational text Explore the book's eclectic collection of art and illustration, by acclaimed illustrator Peter H. Reynolds, 19th century masters, and more. Bryan's approach allows all students to engage meaningfully with texts and join the classroom conversation.' With this comes the greatest reward of all: confidence and independence for all kinds of learners.

Graphica is a medium of literature that integrates pictures and words and arranges them to tell a story or convey information, usually presented in a comic strip, periodical, or book form AKA comics. It's no surprise comics have long been popular with kids and adults; some of our greatest heroes were introduced to us in comic form. Drawing on his own success using graphica with elementary students, literacy coach Terry Thompson introduces reading teachers to this popular medium in Adventures in Graphica: Using Comics and Graphic Novels to Teach Comprehension, Grades 2-6. In his book, Thompson explains how graphica can be an engaging and motivating tool for reluctant readers who often shun traditional texts. He suggests sources of appropriate graphica for the classroom and demonstrates how to fit this medium into the literacy framework and correlates with best practices in comprehension, vocabulary, and fluency instruction.Adventures in Graphica contains numerous, easy-to-replicate, instructional strategies, including examples of how graphic texts can be used to create a bridge and students transfer abstract comprehension strategies learned through comics and graphic novels to traditional texts. It is an excellent roadmap for teachers looking to add graphica to their classrooms.