Using Graphic Organizers
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Graphic organizers are visual representations that help students organize ideas from text. 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 (Kim, Vaughn, Wanzek, &
Wei, 2004; Marzano, Pickering, & Pollock, 2001) Graphic Organizers can be very useful in writing. They can be used to help students sort through their ideas before they begin a writing assignment. They allow students to logically organize information into patterns such as sequence, cause and effect, and problem - solution. They can even can assist students in generating ideas and planning a course of action. According to page 63 of Dr. Mimi Miller and Nancy Veatch in their 2011 book entitled Literacy in Context (LinC): Choosing Instructional Strategies to Teach Reading in Content Areas for Students Grades 5-12, "Graphic Organizers can be used to help students get their thoughts in order before they begin to draft their assignment. They allow students to organize information into logical patterns such as sequence, cause and effect, and problem - solution. During the pre-writing stage, Graphic Organizers can assist students in generating ideas and planning a course of action." There are a large number strategies for teachers to employ in helping students organize information. Graphic organizers are most effective when they match the structure of the text or the content of instruction. Content area text has different structures and each corresponds with appropriate types of graphic organizers. |
Sarah Haines discusses the uses and benefits of using graphic organizers in the curriculum with several examples.
This is a very detailed explanation of how to use graphic organizers and when/where they are beneficial.
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Examples
Compare/Contrast MatrixAccording to page 70 of Dr. Mimi Miller and Nancy Veatch in their 2011 book entitled Literacy in Context (LinC): Choosing Instructional Strategies to Teach Reading in Content Areas for Students Grades 5-12, "The rationale behind the Compare/Contrast Matrix Graphic Organizer is to help students extract details from the text and organize them into a logical chart to use later when they are studying or writing an essay. This graphic organizer is best suited to text that is full of details and requires the student to learn many facts about different people, places, or events."
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Main Idea/Detail Graphic organizer
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According to page 65 of Dr. Mimi Miller and Nancy Veatch in their 2011 book entitled Literacy in Context (LinC): Choosing Instructional Strategies to Teach Reading in Content Areas for Students Grades 5-12, "The purpose for using this graphic organizer is to provide a framework for students to record the main idea and details that can be found within each paragraph as they read the text. It gives students a road map that they can use to chart the course before reading and a study guide or writing support to use after reading."
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Resources
Haines, Sarah. (2010). Graphic organizers. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8rgFOlCnGN8
Kim, A., Vaughn, S., Wanzek, J., & Wei, S. (2004). Graphic organizers and their effects on the reading comprehension of students with LD: A synthesis of research. Journal of Learning Disabilities, 37, 105–118.
Miller, M., & Veatch, N. (2011). Literacy in context (LinC): Choosing instructional strategies to teach reading in content areas for students grades 5-12. Boston: Pearson.
Oakdome. (2015). iPad graphic organizer - Main idea and details. Retrieved from http://oakdome.com/k5/lesson-plans/iPad-lessons/images/ipad-graphic-organizers/ipad-graphic-organizer-main-idea-and-details.gif
Haines, Sarah. (2010). Graphic organizers. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8rgFOlCnGN8
Kim, A., Vaughn, S., Wanzek, J., & Wei, S. (2004). Graphic organizers and their effects on the reading comprehension of students with LD: A synthesis of research. Journal of Learning Disabilities, 37, 105–118.
Miller, M., & Veatch, N. (2011). Literacy in context (LinC): Choosing instructional strategies to teach reading in content areas for students grades 5-12. Boston: Pearson.
Oakdome. (2015). iPad graphic organizer - Main idea and details. Retrieved from http://oakdome.com/k5/lesson-plans/iPad-lessons/images/ipad-graphic-organizers/ipad-graphic-organizer-main-idea-and-details.gif
