KWL charts are a reading strategy used to help students organize their thoughts before, during, and after reading. It involves three columns - What I Know, What I Want to Know, and What I Learned. This helps students assess their prior knowledge, determine the purpose of reading, and evaluate their comprehension. Variations include adding additional columns. Teachers can use KWL charts to engage students and support those who struggle with reading, memory, or thinking beyond the text. While effective, some students may lose focus or find it difficult with limited prior knowledge.

1. KWL ChartsKWL Charts
Purpose, use, and outcomePurpose, use, and outcome
Shawn M BaumanShawn M Bauman

2. What is a KWL Chart?What is a KWL Chart?
 KWL stands for:KWL stands for:
 What I KNOW.What I KNOW.
 What I WANT to know.What I WANT to know.
 What I LEARNED.What I LEARNED.
A KWL Chart is reading strategy that helps to guideA KWL Chart is reading strategy that helps to guide
students thru text.students thru text.
It also helps to organize thoughts in a graphical (visual)It also helps to organize thoughts in a graphical (visual)
form.form.

3. What is the Purpose of KWL’s?What is the Purpose of KWL’s?
 The KWL serves three purposes:The KWL serves three purposes:
 Assess and connect text with prior knowledgeAssess and connect text with prior knowledge
 Reveals the purpose of reading to the studentReveals the purpose of reading to the student
 Allows student to assess their comprehension on theAllows student to assess their comprehension on the
topic.topic.
 Helps student to organize thoughts before, duringHelps student to organize thoughts before, during
and after reading.and after reading.

4. Example of KWL ChartExample of KWL Chart

5. Overview of KWL’sOverview of KWL’s
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?x-yt-ts=14225794https://www.youtube.com/watch?x-yt-ts=14225794
 Click on link to view.Click on link to view.

6. Advantages of KWL’sAdvantages of KWL’s
 Useful for readers who struggle to stay focusedUseful for readers who struggle to stay focused
 Useful for introducing a new topic/unit ofUseful for introducing a new topic/unit of
learning.learning.
 Helps to engage learner in lesson/unit instead ofHelps to engage learner in lesson/unit instead of
passively engaging.passively engaging.
 Can be used in various age groups and subjects.Can be used in various age groups and subjects.

7. Disadvantages to KWL’sDisadvantages to KWL’s
 May discourage asking questions.May discourage asking questions.
 ““K” column can be difficult if student has NOK” column can be difficult if student has NO
prior knowledge of topic.prior knowledge of topic.
 Students may find this task difficult if they lackStudents may find this task difficult if they lack
memory, thinking, and unable to think beyondmemory, thinking, and unable to think beyond
the text.the text.
 Students may get bored and refuse to completeStudents may get bored and refuse to complete
exercise.exercise.

8. Variations on the KWLVariations on the KWL
 KWLS Chart-The “S” stands for What I STILLKWLS Chart-The “S” stands for What I STILL
need to know. This may help students who haveneed to know. This may help students who have
not yet grasped the topic.not yet grasped the topic.
 KWHL Chart-The “H” stands for HOW will IKWHL Chart-The “H” stands for HOW will I
find the information. This a definite 21find the information. This a definite 21stst
CenturyCentury
addition to the traditional KWL.addition to the traditional KWL.

9. How to Use KWL’s in the ClassroomHow to Use KWL’s in the Classroom
 Organize focus/thoughts at beginning of unit/topic ofOrganize focus/thoughts at beginning of unit/topic of
learning or project.learning or project.
 May be useful to students who struggle to read textsMay be useful to students who struggle to read texts
and summarize what they have read. This would be aand summarize what they have read. This would be a
tool/strategy for those students.tool/strategy for those students.
 Use as a tool to engage students in active learning. WithUse as a tool to engage students in active learning. With
basic structure/purpose expressed, maybe used to reachbasic structure/purpose expressed, maybe used to reach
less motivated students or those who do not engageless motivated students or those who do not engage
due to fear of feeling humiliated.due to fear of feeling humiliated.

10. KWL Resources/ReferencesKWL Resources/References
 Hopefully you have found this informative. Some of theHopefully you have found this informative. Some of the
resources available and used for reference.resources available and used for reference.
 http://techlearning.com/default.aspx?tabid=100&entryid=620http://techlearning.com/default.aspx?tabid=100&entryid=620
 http://www.readinghorizons.com/blog/post/2010/08/23/Readhttp://www.readinghorizons.com/blog/post/2010/08/23/Read
ing-Strategies-that-Work-for-Struggling-Readers-KWL-ing-Strategies-that-Work-for-Struggling-Readers-KWL-
Charts.aspxCharts.aspx
 http://www.nea.org/tools/k-w-l-know-want-to-know-http://www.nea.org/tools/k-w-l-know-want-to-know-
learned.htmllearned.html
 http://www.kendallhunt.com/contentarealiteracy/Articles/Oglehttp://www.kendallhunt.com/contentarealiteracy/Articles/Ogle
.pdf.pdf
 http://www.docstoc.com/docs/15179155/kwl-strengths-and-http://www.docstoc.com/docs/15179155/kwl-strengths-and-
weaknessesweaknesses