Is your student struggling visually???

Does your student have a visual closure concern?????

Many students have difficulties with writing and using worksheets or test forms that are poorly photocopied, copying something if he/she cannot see the complete presentation of what is to be copied, completing partially drawn pictures or stencils, spelling, completing assignments, completing dot-to-dot worksheets or puzzles, identifying mistakes in written materials, performing mathematics (including geometry) and solving puzzles can be a result of visual closure deficit. Students may also leave out parts of words or entire words and/or fail to complete parts of worksheets.

Visual Closure reflects a child’s ability to look at an incomplete shape, object or amount and fill in the missing details in order to identify what it would be if it were complete. This skill requires abstract problem solving.

Some strategies to help students with visual closure include:
• Have a completed project for an example placed near the student, as well as step-by-step instructions to complete a novel project.
• Arrange the student’s seat placement right in front of the chalkboard, dry erase board, or overhead projector.
• Present cleanly photocopied worksheets and test forms.
• Give student a “helpful hint” about mistakes in order to give him/her a second chance to correct some of the errors, due to his/her difficulty recognizing errors in written material.

References:
Schneck, C. & Lermer, P. (1993). Reading and visual perception. In Royeen, C. (Ed.), AOTA Self-Study Series: Classroom Applications for School-Based Practice. Rockville, MD: American Occupational Therapy Association.
Schneck, C. (1996). Visual Perception. In J. Case-Smith, A. Allen, & P. Pratt (Eds), Occupational Therapy for Children (3rd Ed.). St. Louis. Mosby.
Todd, V. (1993). Visual perception frame of reference: An information processing approach.