Visual-First Reading Protocol
Image first. Vocabulary next. Text last.
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Visual-First Reading Protocol
When the text is hard, the visual is the entry point. Lower the threshold before reading begins.
Date:
Text/Source:
1
See
3–5 minutes
Show one image, map, painting, photograph, political cartoon, or chart connected to the text. No text on the slide. Silent observation.
"I see ___."
"I notice ___ in the corner."
2
Wonder
3 minutes
Pair-share: what questions does the image raise? What might be happening? Capture two or three on chart paper.
"I wonder why ___."
"Maybe ___ because ___."
3
Word bank
5–7 minutes
Introduce 5–8 key vocabulary words. Anchor each to the image. Add cognates. Students record in their own words.
"This word ___ means ___, like ___ in the image."
4
Now read
10–15 minutes
Hand out the text. Students hunt for the words. They confirm or revise their wonder questions as they read.
"My wonder was ___. The text says ___, so…"