Graphic Organizers
Did the teacher provide students with instruction and support so that they could utilize graphic organizers to: 1) produce writing aligned to the goals of the unit, and 2) address their individual needs and/or learning styles?
Why does this matter?
Graphic organizers are visual displays or charts that show the relationships between ideas, facts and information. They can be very helpful for many students. However, the graphic organizer itself is not the end product. The graphic organizer is a tool for students to use to organize information before they write !
Graphic organizers are an effective instructional tool for supporting writers as they move through the writing process. Graphic organizers help readers and writers to gather and organize details, to decompose big ideas, and to synthesize concepts. When the goals of the unit are used to inform the types of organizer, student outcomes are improved.
Graphic organizers, when used properly, have a strong impact on student learning, as can be seen from these two resources:
What does this look like in a classroom?
Teachers creating graphic organizers with students
Teachers modelling the use of graphic organizer; teachers using the details in a graphic organizer to compose writing
Writing samples/models accompanied by graphic organizers
What does this look like in a remote learning context?
Teachers creating graphic organizers with students
Teachers modelling the use of graphic organizer; teachers using the details in a graphic organizer to compose writing
What are some key PD resources related to this topic?
Different Types of Graphic Organizers and Their Uses
Visualizing the Argument: Graphic Organizers from the International Reading Association
What are special considerations / resources for Multilingual / English Language Learners?
“Visual illustrations allow ELLs to better understand the material while learning important vocabulary.”
https://www.colorincolorado.org/article/using-graphic-organizers-ells
What are special considerations / resources for students with IEPs?
The National Center on Accessible Educational Materials has an entire page dedicated to graphic organizers.
This article, Graphic Organizers and Implications for Universal Design for Learning has many specific diagrams and examples.
How is this related to CR-SE? (Culturally Responsive /Sustaining Education)
In the CR-SE document it states:" Help students identify their different learning styles in both classwork and homework and incorporate instructional strategies and assignments that are responsive to those learning styles."
Using graphic organizers is responsive to student learning styles.
How is this related to the Supportive Environment Framework / Social-Emotional Learning?
By incorporating graphic organizers, you are creating a safe and welcoming environment for students with different learning styles and needs.