Use Graphic Organizers
Graphic organizers are a strategy that can be used to help students organize ideas, especially from text. They help students to organize information because they are a visual illustration of the concept. They can take many different forms, like Venn diagrams, semantic maps, T-charts, flow charts, and many more. Research has shown that graphic organizers work to help the reader remember information because students are required to list concepts, make connections between ideas, and synthesis ideas (Miller, Veatch, 2011, p. 63). In addition, “research showed that when students constructed their own graphic representation of material in an explanatory text, they showed better understanding than those who copied an illustration or wrote a summary” (Cox, 2012).
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Main Idea/Detail Graphic Organizer
The main idea/detail graphic organizer is best used with descriptive texts, like those in science and social studies. The purpose of this strategy 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" (Miller & Veatch, 2011, p. 65). After completing a reading, the graphic organizer provides the students with a "road map" of text and can be used as a study guide.
Using this strategy in the classroom: 1. Identify an appropriate piece of text that identifies the concepts being addressed. 2. Provides students with a copy of the Main Idea/Detail graphic organizer. Also display a graphic organizer that can be completed for the class. 3. Model one paragraph. While reading, record the significant details from the text in note format. 4. As a class, think aloud with the students to determine the main idea of the paragraph. Record this on the graphic organizer. 5. Continue reading the text, recording details for each paragraph and determining the main idea. 6. As students become familiar with the process of this graphic organizer, they can begin to complete the strategy on their own. How writing is tied to this strategy: Students will be writing the important details from the paragraphs on their graphic organizer along with the main idea. For additional writing, students could use their graphic organizer to write a summary for the entire passage. |
Teach 21: Main Idea & Details
In this video, the teacher takes the time to scaffold this strategy in her class. She discusses how she started with concrete examples before using it with a reading passage. This allowed the students to become familiar with the strategy before applying it in a context that the students could struggle with. In addition, she also encourages student engagement by including them in the class discussion and having them interact with the Smart Board. |
(SECCEducationalTV, 2014)
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(Jenkin, 2014)
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Main Ideas and Details
This video does a good job of explaining what the main idea is and what the details are. It also does a good job of demonstrating how the details are used to determine the main idea. This could be a good video to show a class before starting a Main Idea/Detail Graphic Organizer for the first time. |
Compare and Contrast Matrix Graphic Organizer
The compare and contrast matrix graphic organizer is an excellent strategy to use when students are required to pull lots of detailed information from a text that needs to be placed into a logical order. This strategy is especially helpful for students as they prepare to write an essay or to studying. The goal of the strategy is to "help students clearly see the similarities and differences" between the key terms (Miller & Veatch, 2011, p. 71).
Using this strategy in the classroom: 1. Identify an appropriate piece of text that identifies the concepts being addressed. The text structure should either be compare/contrast or contains lots of details. 2. Create a graphic organizer with headings for the major concepts. 3. Activate students' prior knowledge. Then, read the text with the students, modeling how to fill in the matrix. It may be useful to use think alouds for students to understand the through process needed to complete the graphic organizer. 4. As students become more familiar with the strategy, slowly allow students to complete the graphic organizer on their own. How writing is tied to this strategy: Using the compare and contrast matrix graphic organizer is an excellent way for students to prepare for writing a compare and contrast essay. It allows them to draw evidence from the text as they compose a compare and contrast essay. |
Compare and Contrast Graphic Organizer Demo
In this video, Brayman walks his students through how to complete a compare and contrast graphic organizer. He starts by helping his students set their purpose so that they have a goal before starting to read. He also provides them with a template for a compare and contrast graphic organizer that allows them to go deeper than a typical Venn Diagram. |
(Brayman, 2012)
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(ThoughtfulClassroom, 2010)
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Compare and Contrast Strategy in the Classroom
In this video, the teacher walks the students through comparing and contrasting two concepts (renewable and nonrenewable) using a graphic organizer. He starts by having students locate individual properties for specific characteristics for each main term in the text (contrast). Then, he has the students look for areas where they are similar (compare). At the end of the lesson, the teacher uses questions to help the students reflect on their learning. |