Have you ever had a hard time finding the word you’re trying to say? Or one that really matches the image in your head? What about your children? Have you ever seen them fumble for the word they were looking for? If they are visuospatial learners, meaning they think in pictures, not words, this may be common. The process for a visual-spatial learner to translate mental images into words (or numbers) is much like a computer downloading graphics. A computer, particularly an older model, can take much longer to display an image than it does to display text. The visual-spatial learner must not only “download” mental images, but also convert them into words. When the pressure of a time limit is imposed, the task can become excruciating, if not impossible.
I have a story for you about my very visual-spatial son, Matt: One day, we were driving in the car on an errand and as he was backing up the driveway, he started to panic and said, “No! No. I’m ready”. Don’t go!” “What’s wrong?” I called back. “I can’t make all seven work backwards!” he yelled as the level of panic in his voice continued to rise. ? What is? How does it work? And why do you need it?” As I started to drive forward, Matt started to get really angry and begged me not to keep driving. I looked back at him to see that he couldn’t fasten his seat belt, which, from his point of view. On sight, it was clearly a backwards seven! Because Matt could only see the image, and because there was a timing issue involved (he knew better than to be in a forward-moving car without a seat belt on) , couldn’t translate that image into a word. His ability to communicate to me what was wrong came down to an image he was trying to get across, but failing. He was left with a “backward seven” because he couldn’t find the word “belt belt.” security”.
This happens a lot to visuospatial kids when they take timed tests. They just can’t translate their images into words (or numbers, if it’s a math test) fast enough and they’re hard pressed knowing they have a limited amount of time to spit out the correct answer. Also, if “a picture is worth a thousand words”, how are they going to find the right word?
If your kids find this happening and there doesn’t seem to be any way to avoid taking timed tests, try these tips to help speed up your translation time:
Play games that require answers in minute clock time (mini hourglass). Cranium, Scattergories and Boggle are good examples.
Add a timer to your favorite game. By putting a limit on Scrabble or Upwords, you have simulated taking a timed spelling test. Adding a timer to Yahtzee can help simulate a timed math test.
· Play Pictionary for “reverse” translation: words in pictures, with a time limit involved. Charades can help with this too!
· While you’re in the car, you can play games like “I’m going on Safari” where each player thinks of what to bring in alphabetical order. Then the first player says, “I’m going on safari and I’m going to bring ___ (something that starts with the letter “a”). Then the second player says, “I’m going on safari and I’m going to bring (what the first player) plus ___ (something that starts with the letter “b”). And so on through the alphabet. This requires them to keep words (or images that they must translate into words) in their minds throughout the game/alphabet.
If timed games make your kids too anxious, don’t do it. At least let them play a game without a timer once in a while. Perhaps you could start with longer time limits and gradually lower them to remove any anxiety. Minute glasses that don’t have an audible tick would also help. I’d also suggest not adding a timer to games like chess, where your spatial awareness skills really shine and you can’t rush them!
Until we can get teachers and test creators to understand the bias against visuospatial learners by placing time restrictions on these children, we will need to help our children deal with the stress of taking timed tests. Hopefully, with practice in a safe environment, where your kids can translate their pictures into words at home, with less pressure, they’ll be able to successfully do those translations at school while taking timed spelling or math tests.
Understanding the passage of time
Visuospatial children, and adults, are generally known for not having a very good sense of time. Most can get so lost in what they’re doing that they completely forget about anything else they’re supposed to be doing. Does this sound like your children? Many times our children are expected to know how much time has passed and that it is time for them to move on to another activity. Throughout the school day, subjects end and new ones begin, forcing them to drop what they were doing and move on to the next activity. As soon as they come home from school, mom harasses them to do their homework, right? Then, just as they’ve finished homework and chores and finally found something fun to do outside, they’re called in for dinner. Or so it seems to them!
Well, here’s a trick to help your kids get an idea of when certain periods of time have passed. Visuospatial children often get so involved in what they’re doing that 15 minutes feels like less than five. Do you have a board game that comes with a little hourglass? These usually come in one, two or five minute increments. Find one and use it the next time your kids play on the computer or with their toys. Put it next to them so they can see how five minutes of play feels. After a while, they should start to get a better idea of what one minute, two minutes, or five minutes really feels like. If not, remember, there are secretaries, spouses, and Palm Pilots to remind you where to be and when.
©Copyright Alexandra Shires Golon (2004). From Golon, AS, If You Could See The Way I Think: A Handbook for Visuospatial Children, Denver (2005): Visual-Spatial Resource.