The average American reads at an 8^th grade level.  As a culture, we are reading less and watching more TV and videos.  I am concerned about our reduced reading proficiency.  Over many years of helping children and adults improve their reading, I have found there are three main factors in reading efficiency: being able to recognize words, being able to break down words, and being able to understand what we read. One of the effective strategies I have employed is teaching people how to visualize when they read, i.e. seeing with the brain to process language and thought.  Excellent visual imagery skills have a direct correlation to how we think critically, comprehend and express ourselves through the language channel.

There are many effective educational reading programs offered in today’s school systems.  My intention is to educate parents to find a reading program that matches a child’s learning style. For example, are we primarily a visual, auditory, or proprioceptive (feeling) learner? No matter what our learning style is, a well functioning visual system (tracking, focusing, and visual coordination) is a pre-requisite for becoming a proficient reader.

One great way to improve visual imagery with your child is to read to her and then ask specific questions about the story.  Thus, she begins to “make her own movie” about what you have read.  For example, some questions like: “Can you tell me what the people look like in your story.  Can you describe the place where they are? What do you feel hearing this story?”

Reading is an essential skill in learning, and our visual system is a key component in that process. Vision is much more than being able to read the 20/20 measurement on an eye chart.  Vision is how we process information with our brains and bodies.  Movement, balance, posture, and memory are components of vision.  Vision is a learned and developed skill.