The Emergence of Graphic Organizers in Reading How

The Emergence of Graphic Organizers in Reading How Does the Cloud Compare? Belinda Small, MEd. Educator USA

My Current Personal/Professional Journey Balanced life Take responsibility for children’s care before and after their school day. Keep my job Change work hours Don’t change work environment

Possible Workable Solutions n n Work 80% day for 80% pay Transfer to my child’s school

Surprise, Surprise n n n Win/win by default? Not so fast! Back to diagramming clouds!

Another Long Shot Solution n Propose to my current principal that I work 80% day for 80% pay AND Assume some of her dreaded evening duties Create win/win for both of us!

Guess What? n Two months after my proposal was denied due to “not allowed, ” the master contract was settled. For the first time, teachers are now able to perform “administrative duties after school hours. ”

The Cloud is a Unique Graphic Organizer n n I apply it in my personal life to make decisions for myself AND I apply it in my instructional life to help students improve levels of understanding in content

Overview n n n n Focus Definition Timeline Mainstream Dilemma Solutions Comparison Update

Reading Priorities 5 Major Components n n n Phonemic awareness Phonics Fluency Vocabulary Comprehension

Targeted Learner n n n Adequate Fluency Adequate Vocabulary Comprehension

Definition of a Graphic Organizer n n n “Thinking organizers” “Visual guides for organization…” “…Can help students draw conclusions and make inferences about the material they are studying. ” Harcourt Brace Social Studies 2002

Graphic Organizer n “…a visual representation of knowledge that structures information by arranging important aspects of a concept or topic into a pattern using labels. You may see and hear a variety of other names for the graphic organizer…(p. 6)” -50 Graphic Organizers for Reading, Writing, and More, Scholastic Professional Books, 1999

Timeline: My Personal History with Graphic Organizers n n 1996 Administrator distributes a file of unnamed transparencies with boxes and arrows on them 1997 New textbook has simplistic looking worksheets titled “Graphic Organizers” 1999 State begins grading schools and reporting to the public 2000 Campaign to “become the best” begins and performances compared n n n 2001 Wide spread panic 2002 Professional development is limited to crunching data 2004 Hit with three day teacher workshop and a plethora of different graphic organizer. Frozen chaos.

Examples n n n n n Anticipation Guides Character map Character relationship map Concept definition map Discussion Web Contrast and Compare Chart It Says…I Say Triangular Comparison Chart One Sentence Summary Frames Most Important Word

Examples n n n n n Problem Analysis Problem Solution Graphic Organizers Sketch to Stretch Somebody Wanted But So Story Impressions Frayer Model Semantic Feature Analysis Vocabulary Trees Webbing

Timeline n n 2005 All subject area teachers pick one or two graphic organizer strategies 2006 What’s next?

The Emerging Dilemma Proven best practices Use graphic organizers Teach students better Keep self sane and organized Don’t use graphic organizers

The Assumptions n In order to keep self sane and organized…I must not use graphic organizers because… (Did you see the list? )

In order to keep self sane and organized…I must not use graphic organizers because… n n n n Overwhelmed Too many standards to cover Too many choices Too much time to train Don’t know when to use which Master of none Rarely an answer key

Student Perspective n n n Overwhelmed by vast number of organizers to use “I forgot how…” Master of none

An Attempt to Relieve Pressures n Every subject area teacher pick one or two graphic organizers to teach well.

What are the UDE’s?

Negative Effects n n n Graphic organizers randomly picked Little leverage on learning gains Skills are met in isolation Each standard still takes a lot of time to teach Other needed skills are neglected

Mainstream Examples Focus on One or Two Standards Venn diagram-Compare/Contrast Cornell Notes-Main idea/details K-W-L-Prior knowledge/establish purpose

A Possible TOCFE Solution?

A Marketing Perspective

Teachers n n n What if there was one “Macdaddy” graphic organizer? What if students could repeat the same steps across the curriculum without your instruction? What if you saved valuable planning time by not having to sift through volumes of choices?

What if… n n n You could pick a graphic organizer that leverages the most number of critical skills and use it universally? You were consistent in your approach? What if you were comfortable knowing that students were practicing multiple critical skills every time they use it? You could use it in the “real world? ” You could also reinforce core values?

What if you teach the cloud as your primary organizer? n n What if you could establish critical thinking habits? What if you could streamline your efforts? What if you could teach multiple skills and meet multiple standards with ONE tool? What if you could work smarter, not harder?

The Cloud: Not Your Everyday Graphic Organizer! n n Meets International, National and State Reading Standards Referenced in Yani software package

The Cloud: Not Your Everyday Graphic Organizer! v. Skill: Monitoring Comprehension Making Conclusions/Inferences Making Predictions Recognizing Cause and Effect Recognizing Conflict/Resolution Considering Point of View

One Tool = Multiple Skills v. Skill: Analyzing Character Development Contrasting and Comparing Synthesizing Information Drawing on Personal Experience Extrapolating Possible Themes Communicating in a text-based

The Cloud is Like a Deck of Cards in Many Ways What’s your favorite card game?

Many Games, Yet It is Still Only ONE DECK OF CARDS!

Like a Deck of Cards, One Can “Show” Part of His Hand n n n In the beginning In the middle At the end

In Reading, These are Types of Strategies n n n Pre-reading During reading Post-reading

A Separate Tool is Not Necessary n n Before reading During reading After reading OR at all three times

How is this unique?

Delivery Follows Best Practices Teaching Methods n n n Demonstration/Lecture (model) Fill in the blank (guide) Create your own (independent practice)

More on Guided Practice The “Dealer” may reveal piece at various times depending on the level of experience and the game at hand. n n The The objective wants needs assumptions

Example of Guided Practice Yell and scream Don’t yell and scream

Example of Guided Practice Be happy

Like others, The cloud is Ideal for Various Numbers of Players n n Whole group Small group Independent One-on-one

Unlike others, The Cloud is Ideal for All Genres n Fiction -fables, folklore, fantasy, science fiction, historical fiction, mysteries, poetry… n Non-fiction -biographies, autobiographies, news articles, magazine articles, essays…

Most Rewarding is “Showing Your Hand” n n Present clouds and insights to the class “What have you got? ” Listen to others word choice on the same problem Compare patterns among the whole Connect self/world to text with emerging themes and generalizations

The Cloud is Unique n n Causes introspection and propels us into real world action

Example: The Breadfruit Mutiny historical fiction by Scholastic Teach discipline and efficiency Get bread fruit trees to Tahiti in a timely manner Yell and scream Captain Crew Work together Be kind

“Honey I Shrunk the Teacher!” Who me? n Connecting self to text: ---As a parent ---As a teacher n

“So, what solutions do you have for this EVIL character? ” n n Motivate crew through fresh food Allow some freedom Build confidence through positive encouragement Use rewards for excellent work

The Cloud is Unique n n Causes introspection and propels us into real world action What do you predict will happen? (establishing a purpose for reading)

Example: The Watsons Go to Birmingham 1963 fiction by Christopher Paul Curtis Grow up right and behave Get along and be happy Listen to parents Mama Byron Hang out with friends and be cool Not listen to parents

“Honey, I Shrunk the Students!” n n n Who me? Connecting self to text How can you grow up right and behave while hanging out with friends and being cool?

The Cloud is Unique n n Cause introspection and propel us into real world action What do you predict will happen? (establishing a purpose for reading)

Informational News Article Have gps tracking in cell phones Be nosy Trust Parents Kids Have freedom Not have tracking in cell phones

The Cloud is Unique n n Causes introspection and propels us into real world action Daniel’s real world…his dad broke an assumption Haylee’s real world, she recognized cause and effect between herself and her mother’s actions

The Cloud is Unique n n n Causes one to consider his/her core values In this case the students generalized the common themes about freedom, privacy, responsibility, trust, and protection And the greatest of value…LOVE

Beyond the Text n In this scenario, understanding a parents’ motivation as a “responsibility to protect what they love the most” diffused the outrage that was previously viewed as NOSY and no good.

Students Are Ready n n Since the emergence of graphic organizers, students accept the cloud as a graphic organizer Students are not intimidated by the cloud Students are accepting of the process because it looks familiar The template found on Yani is an easy way to get students started

What Now? n n n Literacy workstations Role of the cloud Weekly repetition to form critical thinking habits Streamline activities to leverage multiple needs and maximum standards Training through text based behaviors and motivations

Of Course, n n The cloud is not the only graphic organizer that TOCFE can compare The branch has proved to be a highly beneficial reinforcement… n n Cause and effect Summarization Main idea Transitions

“We adults, parents and educators, give children a gift when we make spaces for their talk, expect that children will fill them and then build on the child’s responses. ” Nancie Atwell, In the Middle Belinda Small, MEd. USA, 2006 dmssmallb@yahoo. com 850 -682 -5774

Sources n n Reading Strategies Handbook. Holt, Rinehart and Winston Project CRISS Creating Independence through Student-owned Strategies. Carol M. Santa, Lynn T. Haven, Bonnie J. Valdes Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company Iowa 2004