However, in the classroom I emphasize the use of graphic organizers. Each week I use a graphic organizer for students to "prewrite" for the writing lesson. I give students a copy of a graphic organizer and the students fill it out with my assistance. I think prewriting does give students a way to focus their ideas and begin thinking about exactly what they will write during the week. For those of you that do love graphic organizers, http://www.enchantedlearning.com/graphicorganizers/ has wonderful examples, such as the star below, that can be printed and used in the classroom.
In reading for my Masters' classes this week, I am beginning to wonder if I should limit the variation in the graphic organizers and prepare two or three graphic organizers that will help students in writing fiction and nonfiction. In this cases, students would not be required to pay close attention to the layout of the graphic organizer but allow this time to serve as a brainstorming session for thoughts on the topic for the week.
How do you use graphic organizers in the writing classroom? Are graphic organizers helpful for all students or is there another way to help students get excited and organized for the writing of the week?
I use a lot of Venn diagrams and KWL charts. There are so many variations of graphic organizers that I think teachers should use what works. I can see how using just two or three would allow students to perfect using it. What reasons have you discovered for only using two or three graphic organizers?
ReplyDeleteI have also used many foldables to help students organize their information. Students like to construct foldables using colored paper and decorating them.
I haven't only focused on a few, although I seemed to think that the text was suggesting to focus on a few so that students have perfected that and have a deep understanding of why and when that graphic organizer should be used. Another teacher team in building created just a few graphic organizers for their students to use next year instead of mixing it up often, so I will be interested to see how that works for them. i only used a few foldables last year but I think I will try to use more as my students will be older this year. I notice myself remembering the times when we made foldables, so maybe my students will remember those events too.
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