February 2022

Featured Strategy

List-Group-Label

What is List-Group-Label?

List-group-label is a form of semantic mapping. The strategy encourages students to improve their vocabulary and categorization skills and learn to organize concepts. Categorizing listed words, through grouping and labeling, helps students organize new concepts in relation to previously learned concepts.

How to use List-Group-Label?

Select a main concept in a reading selection.
List: Have students brainstorm all the words they think relate to the topic.
- Visually display student responses.
- At this point do not critique student responses. Some words may not reflect the main concept, but hopefully students will realize this as they begin grouping the words in the next step.

3. Group: Divide your class into small groups. Each group will work to cluster the class list of words into subcategories. As groups of words emerge, challenge your students to explain their reasoning for placing words together or discarding them.

4. Label: Invite students to suggest a title or label for the groups of words they have formed. These labels should relate to their reasoning for the grouping.

Watch List-Group-Label

Examples

Science

Social Studies

Differentiated Instruction

for second language learners, students of varying reading skill, and younger learners

Ask students to return to lists it as they read through and the text related to the major concept they brainstormed about. They may find they should add words from their reading or re-label the groups of words they created.
Encourage students to discuss lists with others outside their initial small group.
Have students write the lists or type them using a word processing program.
Provide students with pre-established categories to use to group words.
Create graphical representations of words in order to help students connect to prior knowledge.
Ask students to create their own drawings to accompany the words.

Children's Books to use with this Strategy

Face to Face with Polar Bears

By: Norbert Rising, Elizabeth CarneyGenre: NonfictionAge Level: 9-12Reading Level: Independent Reader

Norbert Rising finds himself in dangerous situations in the Arctic as he studies polar bears. This book connects children with the consequences of global warming, and gives practical advice on how to help save our white-furred friends.

Why Did the Chicken Cross the Road?

By: Tedd ArnoldGenre: FictionAge Level: 6-9Reading Level: Independent Reader

Why did the chicken cross the road? He could be running from approaching zombie chickens or just joining a bunch of buddies for a picnic. Different illustrators use various techniques to provide a (mostly) visual answer to the time-worn question with lots of laughs along the way!

On Beyond Zebra

By: Dr. SeussGenre: FictionAge Level: 3-6Reading Level: Beginning Reader

Readers will delight in the playfulness of this word romp as they venture beyond the letter Z. Inventive letters and creatures are introduced in this funny, rhyming, alphabetic adventure in typical Seussian style.

Thank you Reading Rockets!

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