Literacy Matters - Vol 21 - Winter 2021

Simpler paragraph with 4-5 squares

More challenging paragraph with 6-7 squares

Paragraph:

Dolphins are very smart mammals. They talk with each other making sounds under water. Dolphins sense obstacles through sound waves in a place near their blowhole. They also never sleep because their hearts would stop beating.

Dolphins are very intelligent mammals. They communicate and feel obstacles via sound waves under water. These are processed in an echolocation system near their blowhole. Echolocation means seeing with sound. Dolphins never sleep or they would die because their hearts would stop beating.

Literacy Matters Reading Matters

Paragraph divided up with squares indicating mental images:

Read/hear: Dolphins are very smart mammals.

Read/hear: Dolphins are very intelligent mammals.

Place/touch: Square 1  

Place/touch: Square 1  

Read/hear: They talk with each other making sounds under water . Place/touch: Square 2  

Read/hear: They communicate and feel obstacles via sound waves under water. Place/touch: Square 2   Read/hear: These are processed in an echolocation

Read/hear: Dolphins sense obstacles through sound waves in a place near their blowhole. Place/touch: Square 3  

system near their blowhole. Place/touch: Square 3  

Read/hear: They also never sleep

Read/hear: Echolocation means seeing with sound. Place/touch: Square 4  

Place/touch: Square 4  

Read/hear: because their hearts would stop beating. Place/touch: Square 5  

Read/hear: Dolphins never sleep Place/touch: Square 5   Read/hear: or they would die Place/touch: Square 6  

or

Read/hear: They also never sleep because their hearts would stop beating.

Place/touch: Square 4  

Read/hear: because their hearts would stop beating. Place/touch: Square 7  

or Read/hear:

They also never sleep or they would die because their hearts would stop beating. Place/touch: Square 6  

(Created by the author based on information gained in personal conversation with marine biologist Mary Getten, July 17, 2013)

Figure 4 Paragraph Samples with Mental Image Squares for Listening Comprehension and Retelling Tasks

| 44 | Literacy Matters | Volume 21 • Winter 2021

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