Why the Art of Visual Writing?

Do your students struggle with written or oral expression? Imagine bringing writing to life so every learning style is engaged, enriched, encouraged and expressed. What if writing is more than scratching the surface of a paper with the narrow tip of a pencil, but embellished with the broad strokes of a brush & highlighters, or enhanced by visual props, and empowered by one’s voice, one word at a time? The Art of Visual Writing fosters all of this.

Students can write, but how we ensure the benefits to ‘writing and communicating,’ means framing our teaching into a visual and richer approach to meet unique differences. Many children needlessly struggle with writing because ‘the way they are taught is not how they learn’. That’s why visual imagery & scaffolding techniques not only allow a personal writing experience to be effectively crafted in each child’s written piece; they visually enter the writing process from a position of creative strength, individuality, while nurturing student choice. Now, the writing process is relevant, achievable, and fun for our life- long learners.

Those who struggle communicating with others are still expected to produce written, oral, and visual texts to express, develop, and validate ideas and experiences. But how do we do this? What is good writing? How do we write, speak and present effectively? How does visualizing or verbalizing improve literacy application for all learning styles? The Art of Visual Writing addresses all of this.

Experts confirm that integration of creativity and visual imagery into all curriculum enhances students’ risk-taking and problem-solving abilities, as well as assist them in adopting expressive strategies and rich vocabulary. Artistic techniques connect children with written and oral texts, new ideas and life-experiences. These quick techniques easily enhance every writing genre, cross-pollinating all subject areas. Project Based Learning & visual lessons provide an effective & interactive atmosphere. For example, painting & designing flowers, researching Georgia O’Keefe- a master floral painter, while researching the life cycle of plants & creating diagrams and infusing content vocabulary in nonfiction writing. Based on children’s interests, visual writing becomes more relevant, engaging, and applicable for all ages and abilities.

Visualization and tactile props have enhanced literacy-skills, scores, and children are motivated to publish and present their writing with passion and pride at Author Teas. Why Visual Writing? It stimulates creativity, engages all learning styles, and expands vocabulary, where children create self-choice and a voice, one word at a time! It’s time to embrace visual writing for ALL learning styles. 

Read more about Visual Writing Strategies for Primary Grades K-3. Author: Kim Waltmire M.Ed.