Strategies using Graphic Organizers
Graphic organizers are visual aides that help students understand what they are reading. Graphic organizers include maps, diagrams, charts and other visual aides. These strategies help students by laying out the information in a visual format that makes it easy for students to see connections. According to Literacy in Context, "Research findings indicate that graphic organizers can be effective tools to support comprehension for all students, including those who are at risk for academic failure or have been diagnosed with a learning disability." (Miller and Veatch, 2011, p. 63)
One of the benefits of using graphic organizers is that they help students remember information that they have read. These memory benefits are both short term and long term. The reason that graphic organizers help students to remember information is because students are required to categorize ideas from the text and connect and compare these ideas. (Miller and Veatch, 2011, p. 63)
Graphic organizers can be used for many different purposes. They can be used with different types of texts. According to Adolescent Literacy, "These organizers can be used with either narrative or expository text and in fact can be used to illustrate or represent the text structure itself." (2007, p. 24) Graphic organizers can also be used to teach different strategies such as cause and effect, putting facts in chronological order, and finding and connecting important details from the text. "Teaching students to use graphic and semantic organizers that differ depending on the category of expository text is one way to help students understand and use text structure to comprehend complex texts." (Adolescent Literacy, 2007, p. 24)
Graphic organizers can be used before reading, during reading and after reading. Some graphic organizers that are commonly used to aide reading comprehension include the main idea/detail graphic organizer, the outcome graphic organizer, the evidence guide graphic organizer, the compare/contrast matrix graphic organizer, and the inference graphic organizer. Three of these graphic organizers are examined in more depth below.
One of the benefits of using graphic organizers is that they help students remember information that they have read. These memory benefits are both short term and long term. The reason that graphic organizers help students to remember information is because students are required to categorize ideas from the text and connect and compare these ideas. (Miller and Veatch, 2011, p. 63)
Graphic organizers can be used for many different purposes. They can be used with different types of texts. According to Adolescent Literacy, "These organizers can be used with either narrative or expository text and in fact can be used to illustrate or represent the text structure itself." (2007, p. 24) Graphic organizers can also be used to teach different strategies such as cause and effect, putting facts in chronological order, and finding and connecting important details from the text. "Teaching students to use graphic and semantic organizers that differ depending on the category of expository text is one way to help students understand and use text structure to comprehend complex texts." (Adolescent Literacy, 2007, p. 24)
Graphic organizers can be used before reading, during reading and after reading. Some graphic organizers that are commonly used to aide reading comprehension include the main idea/detail graphic organizer, the outcome graphic organizer, the evidence guide graphic organizer, the compare/contrast matrix graphic organizer, and the inference graphic organizer. Three of these graphic organizers are examined in more depth below.
Main Idea/Detail Graphic Organizer
The Main Idea/Detail Organizer is used to help students recognize and record the main idea and details within the text. These ideas are recorded for each paragraph in the text. The graphic organizer should be filled out before reading to provide the students with a road map or web, and can be used after reading as a study guide. This organizer is most effective when used with sequential or descriptive text, such as in science or social studies. (Miller and Veatch, 2011, p. 65)
The main benefit of this graphic organizer is that it teaches students to find the main idea and connecting details amidst all the information presented in the text. According to the article The many functions of graphic organizers, "This type of graphic organizer shows connections, between an overarching concept and its individual subtopics or details." (2015) The article Graphic Organizers: Guiding Principles and Effective Practices also states, "This organizer is extremely beneficial in helping students distinguish central ideas and their corresponding details from less important information." (2003) In the History Classroom This graphic organizer could be used in a history classroom to help students comprehend a section of text on the civil war. Students would be assigned to work in small groups as they first preview the text and prepare the graphic organizer, read the text as a group and record details, and finally think aloud to determine the main idea for each paragraph. In the Science Classroom Students could also be assigned to use this graphic organizer in the science classroom. When reading a text about volcanoes, the teacher would give each student a copy of the graphic organizer and then lead the class to consider the details and main ideas of each paragraph in the section of text dealing with volcanoes. In Writing
Main idea/detail graphic organizers are important tools in building writing skills. Students can use these graphic organizers to plan out the main idea and supporting details for each paragraph that they will write. This allows them to create a map or web to follow when they begin writing and will help them to keep their ideas cohesive and connected. CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.WHST.6-8.2.B Develop the topic with relevant, well-chosen facts, definitions, concrete details, quotations, or other information and examples. |
Videos
The teacher in this video introduces to her students how identify the main idea and details. She began with very simple, concrete examples using pictures and explaining to students how they could write a paragraph from each main idea and set of details. She then moves on to teach the students how to find the main idea in a paragraph or essay that they are reading. This video is a good example to use because it shows how to incorporate the main idea/detail graphic organizer into the writing process. This video shows an unconventional way of using main idea graphic organizers called main idea squares. This strategy can be used to improve vocabulary and reading comprehension. The video begins with a narrative by a student explaining how her class uses main idea squares. She explains how the students find the main ideas and the supporting details in their textbooks. The video then shows a real time example of the students explaining to other students how they use the main idea squares. This video is helpful because it shows what the students actually know about the graphic organizers they are using and why they think the graphic organizers are helpful.
|
Evidence Guide Graphic Organizer
The evidence guide graphic organizer helps students identify the arguments being presented by the text and collect evidence from the text that supports and disclaims the argument. This type of organizer should be used with text that is persuasive or problem-solution in structure. (Miller and Veatch, 2011, p. 68) To use this graphic organizer, the teacher must first select several texts on the topic that will provide the students with several different points of view. The students (or teacher) will then read the texts and write down the theories presented and the ideas that support each one.
There are many benefits from using the evidence guide graphic organizer. This graphic organizer can be used to motivate students to read and research ideas. According to Literacy in Context, "For students who are interested in mystery and crime scene investigation, this organizer is especially motivating." (Miller and Veatch, 2011, p. 69) Evidence guide graphic organizers can also help students prepare to debate about a content area that is controversial.
Another benefit of the evidence guide graphic organizer is that it helps students make predictions about what they think may happen next in the text. "Making predictions keeps the students actively engaged in the reading process, and being engaged is key to comprehension. By constantly thinking about their predictions to confirm or revise them, readers remain motivated and focused. " (Guisinger, n.d.)
A final benefit is that this graphic organizer may also be used as a study guide to prepare for a test or writing assignment. (Miller and Veatch, 2011, p. 70)
In the Classroom
Evidence guide graphic organizers could be used in the language arts classroom. The teacher would pick a controversial topic and provide students with several different texts from different points of view. The teacher could then put the students in groups and have them work together to gather arguments and supporting details from the texts and record them on the graphic organizer. The groups could then present their evidence and conclusions to the class.
The science classroom is another content area in which this graphic organizer might be useful. Students might be studying evolution or another topic with multiple theories. Students would record their findings from the text on evidence guide graphic organizers and then use the information to create presentations or papers on the topic.
In Writing
Evidence guide graphic organizers teach students how to understand theories and arguments and the details that support them. This understanding can be transferred to writing an argumentative or persuasive piece. This graphic organizer also helps students to understand different viewpoints from the texts that they read and will help them to learn how to portray different viewpoints in their writing as well.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.WHST.6-8.1.a: Introduce claim(s) about a topic or issue, acknowledge and distinguish the claim(s) from alternate or opposing claims, and organize the reasons and evidence logically.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.6-8.1.b
Support claim(s) with clear reasons and relevant evidence, using credible sources and demonstrating an understanding of the topic or text.
Videos
This video shows a 2nd grade class gathering evidence about soil. The teacher first reviews text features and how to take notes from multiple sources. Then the teacher goes through the text on the screen and helps the students pick out text features and record evidence on their graphic organizers (she calls them templates). While this video does not show a middle school classroom, I believe the strategies are transferable. The students read text and record evidence from multiple sources on a graphic organizer. The teacher in this video is very engaging and encourages students to participate by asking questions and having students read aloud with her.
There are many benefits from using the evidence guide graphic organizer. This graphic organizer can be used to motivate students to read and research ideas. According to Literacy in Context, "For students who are interested in mystery and crime scene investigation, this organizer is especially motivating." (Miller and Veatch, 2011, p. 69) Evidence guide graphic organizers can also help students prepare to debate about a content area that is controversial.
Another benefit of the evidence guide graphic organizer is that it helps students make predictions about what they think may happen next in the text. "Making predictions keeps the students actively engaged in the reading process, and being engaged is key to comprehension. By constantly thinking about their predictions to confirm or revise them, readers remain motivated and focused. " (Guisinger, n.d.)
A final benefit is that this graphic organizer may also be used as a study guide to prepare for a test or writing assignment. (Miller and Veatch, 2011, p. 70)
In the Classroom
Evidence guide graphic organizers could be used in the language arts classroom. The teacher would pick a controversial topic and provide students with several different texts from different points of view. The teacher could then put the students in groups and have them work together to gather arguments and supporting details from the texts and record them on the graphic organizer. The groups could then present their evidence and conclusions to the class.
The science classroom is another content area in which this graphic organizer might be useful. Students might be studying evolution or another topic with multiple theories. Students would record their findings from the text on evidence guide graphic organizers and then use the information to create presentations or papers on the topic.
In Writing
Evidence guide graphic organizers teach students how to understand theories and arguments and the details that support them. This understanding can be transferred to writing an argumentative or persuasive piece. This graphic organizer also helps students to understand different viewpoints from the texts that they read and will help them to learn how to portray different viewpoints in their writing as well.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.WHST.6-8.1.a: Introduce claim(s) about a topic or issue, acknowledge and distinguish the claim(s) from alternate or opposing claims, and organize the reasons and evidence logically.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.6-8.1.b
Support claim(s) with clear reasons and relevant evidence, using credible sources and demonstrating an understanding of the topic or text.
Videos
This video shows a 2nd grade class gathering evidence about soil. The teacher first reviews text features and how to take notes from multiple sources. Then the teacher goes through the text on the screen and helps the students pick out text features and record evidence on their graphic organizers (she calls them templates). While this video does not show a middle school classroom, I believe the strategies are transferable. The students read text and record evidence from multiple sources on a graphic organizer. The teacher in this video is very engaging and encourages students to participate by asking questions and having students read aloud with her.
The students in this class are debating the value of adolescent literature. They are reading two articles with opposing viewpoints to prepare for the debate. One of the viewpoints is that adolescent literature is too dark and negative for students. The other article presents the opposite view. The teacher introduces the two articles and then leads the class in guided reading. After reading the articles, the teacher has the students use a graphic organizer to record the arguments and evidence. She uses this as preparation for the paper that the students will write. This video shows a great example of how to use the evidence guide graphic organizer in the classroom and how the teacher can assess the students' work throughout the process by asking questions and working with students in groups.
Compare/Contrast Matrix Graphic Organizer
The compare/contrast matrix graphic organizer is a matrix chart in which students record details from text. This graphic organizer was developed from the Venn Diagram, but provides more of an opportunity for more complex comparisons. After students have recorded the details in this chart, they are able to examine similarities and differences. This type of graphic organizer works best with text structure that is detail-rich or compare/contrast. (Miller and Veatch, 2011, p. 71) The teacher must create the graphic organizer with appropriate headings for the major concepts of the text, the students then read the text and think aloud to find the details they need to fill out the matrix.
There are many uses for compare/contrast matrix graphic organizers. "They are useful in planning “Compare and Contrast” style essays, but can also help students to differentiate between similar concepts, or show similarities between seemingly disparate ideas. Students could use compare and contrast graphic organizers to differentiate between vocabulary words, to isolate thematic connections between two historical events, or even to compare and contrast the functions of two different mathematical equations." (The Many Functions of Graphic Organizers, 2015) The chart that students create will also be helpful for future studying or writing assignments. (Miller and Veatch, 2011, p. 70)
This type of graphic organizer can be used in almost any subject area. According to the article Graphic Organizers: Guiding Principles and Effective Practices, "In literature, it can be used to compare characters, stories, genres, problems, and solutions. In writing, it can serve as a pre-write for comparison compositions. The diagram is also a tool in math to find common multiples, for example. Science and history applications are endless, from comparing animals, body parts, weather systems, planets, or ecosystems to contrasting historical leaders, geographic regions, cultures, or economic classes." (Graphic Organizers: Guiding Principles and Effective Practices, 2003)
In the Classroom
The compare/contrast matrix graphic organizer could be used in the math classroom to compare the different math theorems. As the students go through their math textbook either on their own or as a class, they could fill in the chart for each theorem they learn about. When they have finished learning about all the theorems, they will be able to see the similarities and differences using the matrix. This would also be a helpful resource to use when working on assignments or studying for a test.
This graphic organizer could also be used in a music appreciation class. Teachers could have students fill out a compare/contrast matrix for the different periods of music history. As the class learns about each period, the students would fill in information such as dates, characteristic traits, composers and compositions. Students would easily be able to see the comparisons and contrasts between the periods and would have a study guide to refer to as well.
In Writing
The compare/contrast matrix graphic organizer teaches students to find details from the text about specific topics. The matrix also helps students to analyze the details that they find and to look at similarities and differences. These skills are helpful in writing as well as reading. When students are preparing to write a paper or researching a topic, they need to understand how to pull details from the text and analyze the details in a useful way.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.WHST.6-8.9: Draw evidence from informational texts to support analysis, reflection, and research.
Videos
The following video link shows a simple way to use the compare/contrast matrix graphic organizer and some of the benefits of using this strategy. This video shows a lesson on rocks. The students first watch a video and take notes on a whiteboard. After viewing the video, each student fills out a graphic organizer with three headings for the three types of rocks they are studying. Then details from their notes are written on the graphic organizer under the correct category. The teacher then leads the class in a discussion comparing and contrasting the different types of rocks. The teacher explains that the graphic organizer is useful not only for organizing the information, but also for giving the students a way to share with their peers.
There are many uses for compare/contrast matrix graphic organizers. "They are useful in planning “Compare and Contrast” style essays, but can also help students to differentiate between similar concepts, or show similarities between seemingly disparate ideas. Students could use compare and contrast graphic organizers to differentiate between vocabulary words, to isolate thematic connections between two historical events, or even to compare and contrast the functions of two different mathematical equations." (The Many Functions of Graphic Organizers, 2015) The chart that students create will also be helpful for future studying or writing assignments. (Miller and Veatch, 2011, p. 70)
This type of graphic organizer can be used in almost any subject area. According to the article Graphic Organizers: Guiding Principles and Effective Practices, "In literature, it can be used to compare characters, stories, genres, problems, and solutions. In writing, it can serve as a pre-write for comparison compositions. The diagram is also a tool in math to find common multiples, for example. Science and history applications are endless, from comparing animals, body parts, weather systems, planets, or ecosystems to contrasting historical leaders, geographic regions, cultures, or economic classes." (Graphic Organizers: Guiding Principles and Effective Practices, 2003)
In the Classroom
The compare/contrast matrix graphic organizer could be used in the math classroom to compare the different math theorems. As the students go through their math textbook either on their own or as a class, they could fill in the chart for each theorem they learn about. When they have finished learning about all the theorems, they will be able to see the similarities and differences using the matrix. This would also be a helpful resource to use when working on assignments or studying for a test.
This graphic organizer could also be used in a music appreciation class. Teachers could have students fill out a compare/contrast matrix for the different periods of music history. As the class learns about each period, the students would fill in information such as dates, characteristic traits, composers and compositions. Students would easily be able to see the comparisons and contrasts between the periods and would have a study guide to refer to as well.
In Writing
The compare/contrast matrix graphic organizer teaches students to find details from the text about specific topics. The matrix also helps students to analyze the details that they find and to look at similarities and differences. These skills are helpful in writing as well as reading. When students are preparing to write a paper or researching a topic, they need to understand how to pull details from the text and analyze the details in a useful way.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.WHST.6-8.9: Draw evidence from informational texts to support analysis, reflection, and research.
Videos
The following video link shows a simple way to use the compare/contrast matrix graphic organizer and some of the benefits of using this strategy. This video shows a lesson on rocks. The students first watch a video and take notes on a whiteboard. After viewing the video, each student fills out a graphic organizer with three headings for the three types of rocks they are studying. Then details from their notes are written on the graphic organizer under the correct category. The teacher then leads the class in a discussion comparing and contrasting the different types of rocks. The teacher explains that the graphic organizer is useful not only for organizing the information, but also for giving the students a way to share with their peers.
The video link below shows a lab lesson in which students virtually dissect a frog. The students work in pairs on computers to complete the lesson prepared by the teacher and take notes on what they have learned. The students then analyze and make predictions about the lab and complete a Venn Diagram comparing the frog's anatomy and the human anatomy. The teacher in this video keeps her students engaged in several ways. She uses technology, has them work in pairs and has them take notes and complete a graphic organizer. The teacher has a chance to assess the students by walking around the room as they work in pairs and complete their graphic organizers.