|
Introduction
The envisionment-building process is recursive in nature, where
at any given moment a reader can move from one stance to another,
in no particular order. Envisionment describes the process competent
readers go through as they make meaning out of what they read.
Each stance provides another set of options
a
panoply of ideas, filling out the reader's depth of experience
with the text and offering a fuller understanding of it.
Effective
readers actively engage in literature in a meaningful, sophisticated
manner, connecting text to their own personal experiences, literary
experiences, and to the world in which they live. Competent
readers are not aware of the stances as they build envisionments,
nor should they be. It is necessary for educators to understand
the envisionment-building process, as well as each stance, for
the sake of instructional design and planning. Here, teachers
can utilize their envisionment-building knowledge in order to
create rich classroom experiences by asking questions that will
stimulate student thinking. Students will benefit tremendously
from creating their own envisionments, and from being a member
of a literary community.
This program showcases the stances in action, where panelists
are engaged in natural literary dialogue, recursively moving
through all of the stances. Panel members build a rich understanding
of the texts at hand, while adding layers of complexity to their
envisionments.
For a complete guide to the workshop session activities, download
and print our support materials.
next  
|