Visual support strategies are essential tools for enhancing students' learning experiences, particularly for those who struggle with spelling, orientation, and visual tracking. By using colour, visual aids, and tailored teaching materials, educators can help students improve their academic performance and reduce the challenges associated with visual processing difficulties.
This article explores various visual support techniques, including the use of pastel colours, orientation support, and visual tracking practices, to create a more inclusive and effective learning environment.
If a child really struggles with visual processing, it also might be worth having a vision test - see here for more details.
Orientation Support
Orientation support involves helping students who struggle with the orientation of shapes, tables, graphs, and numbers, particularly in subjects like Maths. Providing clear and structured guidance helps students develop the skills needed to correctly interpret and use these visual elements.
How this helps
By focusing on orientation support, teachers can reduce confusion and errors related to the misinterpretation of visual information. This is especially important in subjects that rely heavily on visual elements, such as Maths, where correctly understanding the orientation of numbers and shapes is crucial.
Tips for the classroom
Structured Guidance
Provide step-by-step instructions for interpreting tables, graphs, and shapes. Use examples and practice exercises to reinforce these skills.
Practice with Visuals
Engage students in activities that require them to identify and correct orientation errors, such as flipping shapes to match a model or reordering jumbled graphs.
Use Clear Visuals
Ensure that all visual materials used in the classroom are clear, uncluttered, and easy to interpret. Avoid complex or overly detailed visuals that might confuse students.
Visual Tracking Practice
Visual tracking practice involves activities that help students improve their ability to follow and interpret visual information. This is essential for reading, where students need to track lines of text, and for other tasks that require precise visual attention.
Examples of Visual Tracking Activities:
Shape Puzzles:
Use puzzles that require students to match shapes or follow paths to complete an image. These activities strengthen their ability to track and interpret visual information.
Word Searches
How to Do It: Provide word searches that challenge students to find and track specific words within a grid. This helps improve their scanning and tracking abilities.
Tracking Key Words in Texts
How to Do It: Give students exercises where they must find and underline key words in a passage. This practice helps them focus on important information and improves their reading fluency.
Pastel Colours for Visual Comfort
Using pastel colours for backgrounds, paper, and overlays can reduce visual stress and make reading and writing more comfortable for students with visual processing difficulties. This technique is particularly useful for students who find bright white backgrounds harsh or distracting.
How this helps
Pastel colours provide a softer contrast, which can reduce eye strain and improve readability. By experimenting with different colours, teachers can find the most effective background for each student, creating a more comfortable learning environment.
Tips for the classroom
Use Pastel Backgrounds
Set the background of interactive whiteboards to pastel colours, grey, or cream. This can make text easier to read and reduce glare.
Experiment with Pastel Paper and Overlays
Provide students with pastel-coloured paper for reading and writing tasks. Use coloured overlays to help students who struggle with reading on white paper. If these adjustments do not seem to help, consider consulting an optometrist for further advice.
Simplify Visuals
Ensure that slides and handouts are uncluttered, with simple, legible fonts. Avoid using too many colours or complex backgrounds that could distract or overwhelm students.
If issues persist
If issues persist, it might be worth speaking to a parent about Behavioural Optometry. A session with a Behavioural Optometrist, will give a clearer picture over whether or not there is a more serious underlying challenge. See this article for more details.