42 Spatially Cued Formats
Definition
A form of visual cueing that uses space to signal the type response needed (such as 2 empty lines on a worksheet indicating the need for a 2-word answer) to clarify expectations.
In action
Teachers can insert spatial cues into assignments that indicate expectations such as the number of words, sentences, or paragraphs required.
Support Strategies
- Provide students with visual and structural supports (e.g., graphic organizers) to assist with planning and organization
- Model and practice using spatially cued supports to ensure understanding and benefit
- Organize assignments into individual components with spatial cues to help students pace themselves and the amount of writing required
- Provide students with exemplars to show them what the finished product might look like
- Use different templates for different types of writing (e.g., a template for writing a letter with separate lines for the greeting, body paragraphs, and a closing/signature)
Case Study
Student: Grade 5 student in an English class.
Content: Students are learning how to write five-paragraph essays.
Problem: The student is unsure how to structure the essay and how much writing is involved in each section. The student is worried about how they will fill all five paragraphs if they write too much in the first.
Solution: The teacher provides a template with spatial cues that show how many sentences belong in each paragraph (e.g., one paragraph space for the introduction).
Additional Resources
- Detailed chart explaining how different types of processing, including visual-spatial, affect learning from York Region District School Board
- Article on visual supports in the classroom setting from Reading Rockets
- Tips for visual support strategies from Understood
- Ed Guide on Visual Cueing from Add*Ed
