Graphic Organizers with a Twist

1. Graphic Organizers with a Twist Center for Middle School Academic Achievement Presented by Dave Puckett National Middle School Association 2010

2. Questions • Do I ever say anything in class that’s important enough for students to take notes on it? • Do I teach my students how to take notes on the things I say?

3. Questions • Do I ever assign my students something to read, such as a chapter in the text or a magazine article? • Do I teach my students how to read those things?

4. Questions • Do I think writing is an important enough skill that I require my students to engage in it from time to time? • Do I teach my students how to write in my content area?

5. Why use Graphic Organizers? • “Better learning will not come from better ways for the teacher to instruct, but from giving the learner better opportunities to construct.” Papert, 1990

6. In this session, we will … • See why we use GO’s • Examine common traits of GO’s • Scan a process for teaching GO’s • Review sample 2-dimensional GO’s • Add a twist with 3-dimensional GO’s

7. GO’s to go! • Graphic Organizers are instructional tools that are flexible and endless in application.

8. Common Traits of GO’s • They show the order and completeness of a student’s thought process. • Strengths and weaknesses of understanding become clearly evident.

9. Many GO’s show different aspects of an issue/problem--in close and also in the big picture. • Since many GO’s use short words or phrases, they are ideal for many types of learners, including ECE and ESL with intermediate proficiency.

10. 5 Main Types of GO’s • Web: Use to show definitions, attributes, examples and brainstorming. • Chart/Matrix: use to show attributes, comparing and contrasting, and evaluating. • Tree/Map: Use to show classification, analysis, structures, examples and brainstorming.

11. 4. Chain: Use to show processes, sequences, causes and effects, and chronology. 5. Sketch: Use to show physical structures, descriptions of places, spatial relationships, concrete objects, and visual images.

12. What is the process for teaching GO’s?

13. 1. Describe the Concept of GO’s • Describe the concept of GO’s and discuss… • The importance of organizing information. • Various ways to organize. • Benefits of using visual organizers.

14. 2. Introduce a specific GO. • Describe its • Purpose – the kind of thinking it represents. • Visual form.

15. 3. Explain and Demonstrate. • Explain and demonstrate the use of the selected GO with • Familiar information. • New information.

16. 4. Students apply the GO. • Students apply the GO for a specific purpose to… • Familiar information • New information (relatively easy)

17. 6. Have students reflect. • Have students reflect on the use of the GO by: • Sharing student examples. • Evaluating the effectiveness of the GO as to its purpose.

18. 2-Dimensional GOs

19. 2-Dimensional Organizers • Uses: • Teacher directed instruction with new information. • Review of previous learning. • Pre-writing strategy for ORQ,s

20. “Google” it up! • A multitude of 2-dimensional GO’s are available on the web. • Great samples may be found with instructions at www.readingquest.org

21. Add a Twist!

22. 3-Dimensional GO’s • Organize, display, and arrange information, making it easier for students to grasp concepts, theories, facts, opinions, questions, research, and ideas.

23. 3-Dimensional GO’s • Serve as student-made study guides that are compiled as students listen for main ideas, read for main ideas, or conduct research.

24. 3-Dimensional GO’s • Replace teacher-generated writing or photocopied worksheets with student-generated print.

25. Uses for 3-Dimensional GO’s • Reading Tool • While developing their own 3-Dimensional GO’s, students practice basic writing skills, find and report main ideas, organize information, and review key vocabulary.

26. Assessment Tool • Assess student knowledge by using 3-Dimensional GO’s as an assessment tool. They provide detailed feedback on what students know and what misconceptions they may still have.

27. Study Tool • 3-Dimensional GO’s can be used to review for chapter and unit tests, end of course exams, and for standardized tests.

28. Let’s practice! • 2-tabs • 3-tabs • Multiple tabs/layered book • Projects • 4-door books • Cubing

29. Sources • McREL. Teaching Reading in the Content Areas; If Not Me, Then Who? • Dinah Zikes, Foldables • Writedesignonline.com • Readingquest.org