At Educational Pathways Academy, a private school for dyslexia and learning disabilities in Florida, we are committed to offering innovative teaching methods that support our students' unique learning needs. One of the key methods we implement in our Language Arts classes is the innovative Nancibell® Visualizing and Verbalizing® Language Comprehension and Thinking Program (V/V). This program is designed to help children with learning disabilities enhance their concept imagery, which improves language comprehension, memory, vocabulary, and communication skills.

To ensure the successful implementation of this program, our Language Arts teachers have received extensive training in Visualizing and Verbalizing® techniques. We are dedicated to the professional development of our educators and to equipping them with the latest educational strategies. This investment in our teachers enables us to offer specialized support for students with learning differences.

Enhancing language Comprehension through concept Imagery

Student with Learning Disabilities, Participating in Nancibell® Visualizing and Verbalizing® activity, in Language Arts Class, at Educational Pathways Academy, a Private School, for Dyslexia, in Florida

In Mrs. Lagacé’s class at our Doris Frey Campus, students participated in a Visualizing and Verbalizing® activity that deepened their understanding of how words can create mental imagery. During the lesson, Mrs. Lagacé presented an image to the class—a picture she had not seen beforehand—and guided the students in exploring its details. The students were asked to describe the picture to her, answering targeted questions such as "What do you see?" and "How many objects are there?" to encourage detailed responses. These questions guide students in using their senses to describe attributes such as size, shape, color, movement, mood and perspective. The students' enthusiasm was evident as they eagerly described the picture, answering questions with confidence and creativity.

Through this exercise, students practiced translating visual details into words, an essential step in helping them reverse the process by taking words and building mental images. This sequential approach fosters a deeper understanding of language, as the lessons are strategically designed to build on each other, reinforcing the connection between visualization and verbalization. As students engaged in this lesson, they built essential skills that will aid them in both reading comprehension and expressive writing, setting a strong foundation for future success.

How Visualizing & Verbalizing® Builds Comprehension Skills for Students with Learning Disabilities

Students with learning disabilities often face challenges in comprehending the information they read or hear. These challenges are often linked to processing or memory issues, as well as weak concept imagery. As a result, they may only grasp fragments of the information rather than the entire context, making it hard to fully understand or remember what they are taught. Words might seem to “go in one ear and out the other."

To help with these challenges, the Visualizing and Verbalizing® program offers a specialized approach to enhance comprehension. This approach helps students create clear and detailed mental images of the information they read or hear. By learning to form and describe these mental pictures, students can understand and remember the material better. They start to see how individual details fit into a bigger picture, which makes it easier to connect and recall information. This strategy not only aids in reading and listening comprehension but also improves memory, critical thinking, and overall academic performance.