A KWL chart is a graphic organizer used to help students summarize what they Know, Want to know, and have Learned about a topic. It consists of three columns - K, W, and L. Students write what they already know in the K column. They generate questions in the W column. As they read assigned material, students answer the questions in the L column. The chart can then be revised to ensure questions are relevant, information flows cohesively across columns, and questions follow the organization of the reading.

1. KWL Charts
Defining
Creating
Revising
By Mary C. Acevedo, M.Ed., TESOL

2. References
 National-Louis University. (2010).
Department of Reading and Language.
Retrieved from
http://nlu.nl.edu/academics/nce/randl/faculty/do
 Ogle, D. M. (1986). K-W-L: A teaching
model that develops active reading of
expository text. Reading Teacher, 39, 564-
570. Retrieved from
http://www.doc-txt.com/Donna-Ogle-KWL.pdf

3. What is a KWL Chart?
 A graphic organizer that
summarizes what a student already
knows about a subject, what he
wants to learn about the subject,
and what he finally learned about
the subject.

4. Creating a KWL Chart
 A table consisting of only 3 columns and
at least 5 rows.
 Columns =
K (know)
W (want to know)
L (learned)
 Rows =
Row 1 = headings for each column (K W L)
Rows 2-5 = minimum 4 questions:
If you don’t know what to ask, use the information
questions (i.e., wh- questions): who, what, when,
where, why, how, which) for inspiration.

5. Filling in the KWL Chart
 Write what you already know in the
left-hand column.
 Write your questions in the middle
column. Make sure your questions
match the topic in the left column.
 Read the text assignment.
 As you read, you will find the
answers to your questions. Fill in
the answers to the questions in the
right-hand column as you come to
them.

6. Revising
 Are the questions appropriate and
relevant to the assigned topic?
 Does the information read smoothly
and cohesively within a row from left
to right?
 Do the questions on the chart follow
the organization of the reading
material?
 Use the spell and grammar checks.

7. Revising
 Are the questions appropriate and
relevant to the assigned topic?
 Does the information read smoothly
and cohesively within a row from left
to right?
 Do the questions on the chart follow
the organization of the reading
material?
 Use the spell and grammar checks.