This document discusses how graphic organizers can be used to promote critical thinking skills in students. It provides examples of different types of graphic organizers that target various levels of Bloom's Taxonomy and depths of knowledge. The document suggests that graphic organizers allow students to link different levels of learning and provide opportunities to make connections between new concepts and prior knowledge. Recommendations are made to keep graphic organizers simple, use them across multiple lessons, and involve students in their creation.

2. GRAPHIC ORGANIZERS
MICHAEL MATTHEW, M.ED., ED.D (ABD)
BEC-21
Student Centered Concepts

3. HOW CAN GRAPHIC ORGANIZERS
MAKE MY STUDENTS THINK?
Essential Question

4. Key concept
Teachers who consistently use scaffolding
strategies (such as learning centers, graphic
organizers, and cooperative learning models) to
help students organize their thoughts in English
create learning opportunities for gains in
knowledge of both academic English and
curriculum content (van Lier, 1996).
Learning Centers

5. WHAT IS MY UNDERSTANDING OF
A GRAPHIC ORGANIZER?
Open Discussion

6. Graphic Organizers
Bloom’s levels
3 (Application), 4 (Analysis), 5 (Synthesis), 6 (Evaluation)
DOK Levels
2 (Skill/Concept), 3 (Strategic Thinking), 4(Extended Thinking)
Graphic organizers
provide an
opportunity to link
all levels of
learning.

7. Can graphic
organizers be a
better way to
facilitate critical
thinking?

9. The five W’s are critical
thinking questions that are
based on building literacy or
whole language skills.
There are a number of ways
that this organizer can be
adapted to fit in with your
subjects.

10. How can this be applied to a
science lesson?
How can this be applied to a
math lesson?

11. Hey there boys
and girls! Who
does this remind
you of!?
Hey there boys
and girls! Who
does this remind
you of!?

12. There is a deeper
and lasting
connection with
the concept when
it is associated
with a good
feeling!

13. ……….5+5=10
Help Mickey Add
the numbers! What other
addition
problems can
you help
Mickey solve?

14. Same concept, but
with more potential
for building
connections. This
could be used for
adding,
multiplying,
dividing,
combining, etc.
More circles could
be added.
By the way…
what does this
graphic
organizer
remind you of?
By the way…
what does this
graphic
organizer
remind you of?

15. Sometimes basic
shapes can trigger
associations with a
variety of characters,
people, places, or
things…
It is all part of the
learning experience
that we should take
advantage of .
Let the good times roll!

17. How can we use graphic organizers
as a kinesthetic activity?

18. Graphic organizers facilitate
strategies. This organizer
provides a way for students to
use prediction and discovery
with new vocabulary. It can
also be used for English and
science.

19. Graphic organizers can be
constructed for more natural
connections. This organizer
combines prediction, actual
definition, and introduces the
concept of synonyms. It can
also be used for math and
science.

20. Graphic organizers can be
used for virtually any
situation. This organizer
offers an opportunity for
students to reflect on their
behavior, and then provide a
solution. It can also be used
for math, science, and social
studies.

21. Suggestions for Creating/Using Graphic Organizers
• Keep it simple
• Use a graphic organizer with as many lessons as
appropriately possible: these include charts, webs,
diagrams, KWL, and other strategies not covered in
this presentation
• Graphic organizers can be used individually, whole
group, small group, or with pairs
• Graphic organizers can be used for classwork,
homework, learning centers, or placed in subject
related journals

22. Suggestions for Creating/Using Graphic Organizers
• Try to “imagine” from your students’ perspective
the connection with the shapes to something
familiar. Common shapes such as stars, flower
petals, the heart, human form, etc. offer natural
connections
• Think “outside of the box” – how can you involve
your students?
• If your curriculum resources did not come with a
graphic organizer, then borrow one from the
internet or create one that is meaningful and
relevant

23. Don’t become
your work,
have fun with
this stuff!

24. Helpful Links
http://internet4classrooms.com/technology_tutorials/math_s
cience_graphic_organizer_files_excel_topics_technology_tu
torials.htm
http://www.teach-nology.com/worksheets/graphic/
http://www.teach-nology.com/worksheets/graphic/vocab/
http://www.teach-nology.com/web_tools/graphic_org/
http://www.teachervision.fen.com/graphic-
organizers/printable/6293.html

25. • 3 things that I learned from this presentation
• 2 things that surprised me
• 1 thing that I recommend to either change
this presentation or to suggest a topic for
another presentation
Reflection