Using Graphic Organizers to Improve Student Learning

Greg ScogginsJim Ellis

Agenda

1. SOS2. Why Use GO’s3. Problems4. Hit the Targets5. Effective Implementation6. Design a Lesson7. Helpful Links

• Statement– Consistently using Graphic Organizers can have a

significant impact on Student Achievement.• Opinion– Agree– Disagree

• Support– Support your opinion with any kind of evidence

you may have.

Student Achievement

Robert Marzano shows that the use of

Graphic Organizers can increase student achievement by up to 40%

So What’s the Problem?

• How does this phrase play into what we do in education?

• How does it relate to Graphic Organizers?

So What’s the Problem?

So What’s the Problem?

Hit the Targets!!!1. Why is it important to u

se some type of GO?2. How do teachers use G

Os?3. How do students use G

Os?4. How do you use GOs in

an Acquisition Lesson?5. How do you use GOs in

an Extending Thinking Lesson?

6. What kind of GO should I use?

Effective Implementation

• Choose the best GO for the purpose intended.– Is the purpose to compare and contrast, look at

causes and effects, or solve problems.• Make sure students know how to use the GO.

Don’t assume they do.– Teach the how and why of GOs.

• Make sure there is a purpose to the GO.– Must not just be an “extra.”

Final Thoughts

• Construct GOs– Whiteboards– Transparencies– Flannel Boards– PowerPoint– Chart Paper– Student Notebook Paper– Copies (If Needed)

• Remember goal is to get students to use GOs on their own at important times (PSSAs)

• If You Tend to Use the Same GO…– Laminate and use

erasable markers.– Provide templates for

students but not personal copies.

Design a Lesson

• Choose a Graphic Organizer• Design a lesson plan to teach students how to

use the GO.• Remember– What is the purpose of the GO?– Is it to organize, set up a writing assignment, etc.– Why is it important for me, as a student, to learn

how to use this GO?

Links for Graphic Organizers

Wiki.Ed (Graphic Organizers)• http://wik.ed.uiuc.edu/index.php/Graphic_organizer

Ed Helper• http://www.edhelper.com/teachers/graphic_organizers.htm

Fresno United School District• http://www.fresno.k12.ca.us/divdept/sscience/graphicorgan.htm

Class Tools• http://classtools.net/

Why is it important to use some type of Graphic Organizer?

• GO’s show students how to think about the information they’re learning by organizing it in a meaningful way.

• GO’s make new information more manageable by enabling students to chunk it.

• GO’s help students to build connections and explore relationships.

• GO’s help students recall information.How do I want my students

to think about the content?

How do Teachers Use GO’s?•To illustrate and explain text material.•To link thinking strategies to content learning.•To organize themselves to most effectively teach new information.

•To assist in students organizing ideas.

How do students use GO’s• To structure their note-taking• To generate ideas• To record key text information• To guide reading• To organize ideas as a pre-

writing tool• To select, sequence,

restructure, and store information

• To create a visual model to understand and/or explain

• To connect ideas or concepts• To summarize learning

In your opinion, rank these student

reasons from least important to

most important.

How do you use a GO in an Acquisition Lesson?

• Linking new information to prior learning

• Important to thoroughly explain structure and meaning of chosen GO

• Scaffold the GO– “Think Aloud” as you model the

use– Partially completed GO

• Connect the GO to a purpose (e.g. PSSAs)

• Practice, Practice, Practice

How do you use a GO in an Extending Thinking Lesson?

• With Extending Thinking students are deepening their understanding.

• Teachers use to– Connect thinking skills to

specific content– Assist students in

organizing ideas before writing

– Analyze and synthesize key information

Learning effect comes from students USING the organizer for a purpose.

How do I know which GO to use?

• How do you want students to think about the content?– Find this in the LEQ.– GO is used to lift out the key ideas of the Lesson which will

then provide an answer to the LEQ.• Assist student in understanding text structures.

– Sequence or Time Order– Description or Listing– Compare/Contrast– Cause/Effect– Problem Solution

• GOs help students identify the text structure and organize key points from the reading.

Sequence/Time Order

Description/Listing

Compare/Contrast

Cause/Effect

Problem Solution