Book excerpt: Maps have been used for centuries to help orient us in the physical world, yet they can also be useful tools for making sense of the more abstract world of thought. This remarkable book explores visual techniques for helping students understand how they think so they can become more effective learners. Thinking Visually combines the latest research with effective classroom practices that offer new possibilities for teachers and students.Activities included are designed to:teach thinking skills as part of any subject areas;improve reading and writing skills;support each stage of the learning process;demonstrate and develop intelligence;encourage four essential learning skills that apply to all students, regardless of the preferred learning style;measure intelligence and improvement in learning;explore effective classroom practices for planning, teaching, and reviewing. The visual learning strategies presented throughout the book will help students demonstrate their own thinking, increase their capacity to learn, and assume ownership and responsibility for their learning. Simple approaches to mastering the visual presentation of information range from exercises in categorization to persuasive student examples that illustrate thinking principles. A number of ready-to-use reproducible worksheets complement the text and make it easier to put these strategies to work right away.