Reading Aloud Strategies

Why use graphic organizers?

The human brain naturally looks for connections between old and new information. Additionally, studies have shown that the brain processes information most efficiently in chunks. Graphic organizers complement both of these processes by helping students:

• Visually sort new information into familiar categories
• Analyze the relationships between old and new information
• Create a simple structure for thinking about information in new ways
• Review concepts and demonstrate understanding

Graphic organizers can be used in all phases of learning from brainstorming ideas to presenting findings.

When using graphic organizers with early readers, teacher guidance may be necessary. As readers progress, they may benefit from completing the organizers independently (the brain remembers best when personal creativity has been invested in the exercise). To facilitate the learning process, encourage the use of a variety of mediums, including colored markers, crayons, and pencils. If possible, it benefits students to have the graphic organizers reproduced on colored paper. Give students as much freedom as possible to create and complete their organizers.

Primary Graphic Organizers (K-2)

Reading Strategies

Ask and Answer Questions: Condense and categorize questions and answers about a subject Concept Flower: Condense and organize information about a single topic Draw Connections: Outline self-to-text relationships KWL Chart: Organize information according to what students know, what they want to know, and what they learn from reading a select text KWLS Chart: Organize information according to what students know, what they want to know, what they learn through reading, and what they still want to know Retell Chart: Record important information about a story to improve textual understanding Web Diagram: Condense and organize information about a single topic Web Wheel: Condense and organize information about a single topic Y-Chart: Record prior knowledge about a topic

Reading Comprehension Skill

Cause and Effect: Outline cause-and-effect relationships Character Flower: Record the characters, setting, problem, events, and solution Character Map: Analyze a character's traits Character Traits Wheel: Analyze a character or person Draw Conclusions: Use information from text to draw conclusions about characters or events Fact and Opinion Chart: Distinguish between facts and opinions Fantasy and Reality: Separate elements of reality from elements of fantasy Main Idea and Details E-Chart: Identify a main idea and two supporting details Main Idea and Details Ladder: Condense and organize details about a single topic Problem and Solution: Identify the problem and solution Sequence Events Chart: Identify the beginning, middle, and end Story Elements Map: Identify the problem, rising action, climax, falling action, and solution Story Map: Identify the characters, setting, problem, events, and solution Summary Chart: Identify important ideas in text to write a summary Timeline: List events in chronological order Topic Web: Condense and organize information by identifying why, who, what, when, and where Venn Diagram: Compare and contrast two items or topics

Vocabulary

Word Meaning Map I: Record and define elements of a word Word Meaning Map II: Record, define, and apply elements of a word

Intermediate Graphic Organizers (3-6)

Reading Strategies

Anticipation Guide: Make and revise predictions about a topic before and after reading KWL Chart: Organize information according to what students know, what they want to know, and what they learn from reading KWLS Chart: Organize information according to what students know, what they want to know, what they learn from reading, and what they still want to know Topic Web: Condense and organize information by identifying how, who, what, why, when, and where Web Diagram: Condense and organize information about a single topic Note Manager: Record important information about a topic Web Wheel: Condense and organize information about a single topic Y-Chart: Record prior knowledge about a topic

Reading Comprehension Skill

Cause and Effect: Identify cause-and-effect relationships Cause and Effect Chain: Identify multiple cause-and-effect relationships in sequence Character Attributes Web: Analyze several aspects of a character's traits Character Interaction Map: Describe how multiple characters relate to one another Character Map: Analyze a character's traits Fact and Opinion Chart: Distinguish between facts and opinions Identify Author's Purpose: Identify and support the author's purpose Main Idea and Details Ladder: Identify main ideas and supporting details for a topic Make Inferences: Use story clues and prior knowledge to make inferences Plot Map: identify the beginning, main events, climax, and resolution Problem and Solution: Identify the problem and solution Sequence Events Chart I: Identify the beginning, middle, and ending Sequence Events Chart II: Sequence events in chronological order Sequence Events Chart III: Sequence multiple events in the order in which they occurred Solution Evaluation Chart: Identify the problem, possible solutions, and final result Story Map: Identify the characters, setting, problem, events, and solution Story Web: Identify the setting, characters, problem, and solution Summary Chart: Identify important events in text to write a summary Summary Outline: Identify important ideas in text to write a summary Supporting Details Web: Identify the main idea and supporting details Timeline: List events in chronological order Venn Diagram: Compare and contrast two topics

Vocabulary

Word Meaning Map I: Record and define elements of words Word Meaning Map II: Record, define, and apply elements of a word

Taken from:  http://www.readinga-z.com