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Visualizing Verbalizing Programs

Strengthen Comprehension with the Visualizing and Verbalizing® Program in Montreal 

The Visualizing and Verbalizing® (V/V®) Program at Strategic Learning Clinic in Montreal is an evidence-based approach designed to improve reading comprehension, critical thinking, and cognitive processing. Developed by Nanci Bell, a renowned expert in language and literacy disorders, this program helps students bridge the gap between reading words and truly understanding them. 

V/V® training teaches students to visualize what they read, transforming abstract words into concrete mental images, so comprehension becomes clear, memorable, and meaningful. 

Why Many Students Struggle with Comprehension 

Many students can read accurately yet struggle to understand or recall what they’ve read. The issue isn’t vocabulary — it’s the brain’s ability to form concept imagery. Without mental pictures, text feels abstract and quickly forgotten. 

Through Visualizing and Verbalizing® training, students learn to create vivid mental images as they read or listen, connecting ideas to their own experiences. This process makes information more concrete, improves recall, and strengthens both reading and listening comprehension. 

When reading, the information seems abstract to readers who have trouble processing language. Abstract information can be very difficult to understand so the text goes in one ear and out the other, so to speak. When creating mental images of the text, the reader draws from their own experiences and knowledge (text-to-self connections) and the meaning becomes meaningful and concrete. This makes it easier to process the information, recall it later, and put the information into one’s own words. Additionally, when asked inferential questions about the text (e.g., what do you think will happen next), the reader can refer to their mental image, which will help facilitate their ability to answer these types of questions.

How Our Visualizing and Verbalizing® Program Works 

The program follows a structured, step-by-step method that develops comprehension through guided visualization: 

  • Step 1 – Picture Description: Students describe real images using precise detail. 
  • Step 2 – Personal Imagery: They practice recalling familiar objects or scenes from memory, guided by targeted questions. 
  • Step 3 – Text Visualization: Students progress to visualizing sentences and paragraphs from short stories or academic text. 
  • Step 4 – Verbal Expression: Tutors encourage students to translate their mental images into clear language, a skill that builds both oral and written communication. 

Each session engages both sides of the brain for stronger language processing, retention, and higher-order thinking. 

Understanding the Root Cause of Comprehension Difficulties

Many students read fluently but fail to retain meaning because they struggle to form a complete mental picture of what they read, a weakness known as poor concept imagery. 

This can lead to frustration, short-term memory issues, and difficulty following directions or summarizing information. Teachers may misinterpret these struggles as attention problems, when the real issue is how the brain processes language. 

Signs Your Child May Need Comprehension Support 

Weak concept imagery can affect students of all ages and often shows up as: 

  • Difficulty understanding what they read or hear 
  • Trouble following multi-step instructions 
  • Weak memory or retention of details 
  • Limited critical thinking or problem-solving skills 
  • Challenges expressing ideas verbally or in writing 
  • Difficulty understanding humor, social situations, or cause and effect 

Recognizing these signs early helps families seek timely intervention and avoid learning setbacks. 

 Our Solution – Visualizing and Verbalizing® Training in Montreal 

At Strategic Learning Clinic, we use the Visualizing and Verbalizing® Program to strengthen concept imagery, the foundation for reading comprehension and critical thinking. This structured method develops both language and cognitive skills through guided visualization and verbal expression. 

Students who complete the program typically see improvements in: 

  • Reading and listening comprehension 
  • Oral and written expression 
  • Critical thinking and memory skills 
  • Confidence and academic performance 

Our experienced tutors provide a personalized learning plan for each child, ensuring they gain the skills to understand, analyze, and communicate ideas effectively.

Get Started with the Visualizing and Verbalizing® Program in Montreal

If your child struggles to understand what they read or recall information from lessons, our comprehension tutoring services in Montreal can help. 

Contact Strategic Learning Clinic today at 514-966-1553  or info@strategiclearning.ca.to book a consultation and learn how our Visualizing and Verbalizing training can transform your child’s reading and thinking skills. 

Frequently Asked Questions

It’s a comprehension method developed to teach students to create mental images while reading or listening improving understanding, recall, and higher-order thinking.

Yes. Strategic Learning Clinic provides Visualizing and Verbalizing® coaching in Montreal led by trained professionals.

With regular sessions, families typically see better comprehension and memory within one academic term (8–10 weeks).

Children and teens who struggle with reading comprehension, language processing, dyslexia, or ADHD often benefit from this approach.

By helping students turn words into pictures, it makes abstract language concrete. This builds stronger connections between vocabulary, context, and meaning.

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