Strategy #2 Graphic Organizers
GENERAL SUMMARY:
Graphic organizers are a good tool to help students understand the “big takeaway” of the lesson and the connecting ideas that go along with it. With an appealing and organized layout, a student can keep track of the progression of the lesson or unit. The student is able to see what they have already learned, plus what they are going to learn. It will help them understand the teacher's reasoning for placing the lessons in such order. It is best to give it to the students incomplete so that they can fill it throughout the lesson or unit. This is a good strategy for visual learners, those who need to literally see what is coming next. It is also helpful for all students because it creates accountability and helps the students understand what they need to know because the lesson or unit is over.
HOW TO IMPLEMENT GRAPHIC ORGANIZERS:
First, the teacher must figure out what the most important concept or idea is within the lesson or unit. It is the "big takeaway" that all students should know and understand. After, the teacher needs to decide which type of graphic organizers work best for the lesson or unit. Below, I have included two examples, but there are hundreds out there. The teacher should know his or her students and which graphic organizer will best fit their needs. Fill in only the essential elements of the organizers. The rest should be filled out by the students. Never give them a completed organizer because it can be overwhelming and difficult to read. Go over together as a class what needs to be filled in. Do this for the first few times, but then, as the students become more comfortable with it, they can fill it in themselves.
EXAMPLES:
Graphic organizers are a good tool to help students understand the “big takeaway” of the lesson and the connecting ideas that go along with it. With an appealing and organized layout, a student can keep track of the progression of the lesson or unit. The student is able to see what they have already learned, plus what they are going to learn. It will help them understand the teacher's reasoning for placing the lessons in such order. It is best to give it to the students incomplete so that they can fill it throughout the lesson or unit. This is a good strategy for visual learners, those who need to literally see what is coming next. It is also helpful for all students because it creates accountability and helps the students understand what they need to know because the lesson or unit is over.
HOW TO IMPLEMENT GRAPHIC ORGANIZERS:
First, the teacher must figure out what the most important concept or idea is within the lesson or unit. It is the "big takeaway" that all students should know and understand. After, the teacher needs to decide which type of graphic organizers work best for the lesson or unit. Below, I have included two examples, but there are hundreds out there. The teacher should know his or her students and which graphic organizer will best fit their needs. Fill in only the essential elements of the organizers. The rest should be filled out by the students. Never give them a completed organizer because it can be overwhelming and difficult to read. Go over together as a class what needs to be filled in. Do this for the first few times, but then, as the students become more comfortable with it, they can fill it in themselves.
EXAMPLES:
Here is a video about graphic organizers:
ASSESSMENT:
Teachers can use this as a type of formative assessment. This can be used to see where the students are in comparison to where the lesson is. If the students aren't understanding the concept that was supposed to be accomplished that day, instead of moving on, the teacher will know to spend a little extra time on the subject. At the end of the lesson or unit, the students can turn this in as a way to show their accountability and understanding of the subject. This is also a great tool to keep around for parent-teacher conferences when the parents ask what their students will be learning in class.
Teachers can use this as a type of formative assessment. This can be used to see where the students are in comparison to where the lesson is. If the students aren't understanding the concept that was supposed to be accomplished that day, instead of moving on, the teacher will know to spend a little extra time on the subject. At the end of the lesson or unit, the students can turn this in as a way to show their accountability and understanding of the subject. This is also a great tool to keep around for parent-teacher conferences when the parents ask what their students will be learning in class.
SUPPORTING EVIDENCE/RESEARCH
"Graphic organizers help students see relationships and pattern new information for memory storage. I consider them one of the most nourishing of all dendrite sprout "foods" we can offer to nurture our students' brain growth. Graphic organizers are a creative alternative to rote memorization, because they enable students to make connections, see patterns, access previously stored related memories, and expand upon existing memory circuitry.Graphic organizers coincide with the brain's style of patterning. When teachers organize and present material in ways that stimulate students' brains to create meaningful and relevant connections to previously stored memories, they can make associations, discover patterns, and sort and store the new data as relational memory and then long-term memory."
Brain-Based Teaching Strategies for Improving Students' Memory, Learning, and Test-Taking Success
Willis, Judy. Childhood Education 83. 5 (2007): 310-315.
"Goal setting increases appropriate behavior in the classroom, positively affects motivation, and can change negative or self-defeating attitudes."
Graphic Organizers: Tools to Build Behavioral Literacy and Foster Emotional Competency
Rock, Marcia L. Intervention in School and Clinic 40. 1 (Sep 2004): 10-37.
"Graphic organizers help students see relationships and pattern new information for memory storage. I consider them one of the most nourishing of all dendrite sprout "foods" we can offer to nurture our students' brain growth. Graphic organizers are a creative alternative to rote memorization, because they enable students to make connections, see patterns, access previously stored related memories, and expand upon existing memory circuitry.Graphic organizers coincide with the brain's style of patterning. When teachers organize and present material in ways that stimulate students' brains to create meaningful and relevant connections to previously stored memories, they can make associations, discover patterns, and sort and store the new data as relational memory and then long-term memory."
Brain-Based Teaching Strategies for Improving Students' Memory, Learning, and Test-Taking Success
Willis, Judy. Childhood Education 83. 5 (2007): 310-315.
"Goal setting increases appropriate behavior in the classroom, positively affects motivation, and can change negative or self-defeating attitudes."
Graphic Organizers: Tools to Build Behavioral Literacy and Foster Emotional Competency
Rock, Marcia L. Intervention in School and Clinic 40. 1 (Sep 2004): 10-37.