Computers and Writing

Session 2

Graphic Organizers

Graphic Organizers

• visual representations of students knowledge of concepts and topics

• provide a frame for teachers and students to visually identify important facts, organize information, and record relationships between facts and ideas

Graphic Organizers

help students...

• understand how pieces of information are related• increase their comprehension and recall• organize their observations, research, opinions, and

reflections• prepare written assignments and presentations• problem solve and integrate their thinking, reading,

and writing processes• practice higher level thinking skills and apply skills to

real-world situations

Graphic Organizers

help teachers...

• explain and illustrate abstract concepts• focus students’ attention on one part of the text

while guiding them to see the overall sequence and interrelationships of the parts

• provide second language learners with a visual image for new vocabulary

• assist students with advance information and structure

• review materials as a post reading activity

A Few Graphic Organizers

• Spider

• List

• T-Chart

• Venn Diagram

• Flowchart

Connects ideas about a topic

Spider

Pollution

Ocean

Roadside

Garbage

Space

List

Characteristics or steps are listed(in order)

Elephant

1. Weighs about 2000 lbs

2. Leathery hide

3. Large flowing trunk

T-Chart

Characteristics or steps of two subjects or processes are listed in columns

Then Now

Log fires for heat

hand-built homes of logs

grow or kill own food

Gas or oil heat

housing development

get food from stores

Venn Diagram

Relationships among ideas or parts

Portland, Oregon

Greenville, Mississippi

forests long growing season

rain

rich soil

river

Flow Chart

Order of elements showing cause and effect

Tea Tax

Boston Tea Party

Declaration of Independence

Graphic Organizer Software

Inspiration and Kidspiration are visual learning tools that inspire students to develop ideas and organize their thinking.

They have an integrated diagramming and outlining feature to help students comprehend concepts and information.

They are ideal for use in language arts, science, social studies and anytime your students need to structure research or other thought processes.

Inspiration and Kidspiration assist in:

Brainstorming

Planning

Organizing

Outlining

Prewriting

Diagramming

Concept Mapping

WebbingSamples

Free Mind Mapping Tools

• http://bubble.us

• http://www.gliffy.com

Resources

FYI

WebSites

http://www.pics4learning.com -- free copyright-friendly imageshttp://www.tech4learning.com/ - - resources for classroom use

http://www.homeroomteacher.com --- provides links to many education related topics

WebSites

http://www.inspiration.com -- download a free 30 day trial.

http://www.writedesignonline.com/organizers/ -- an index of graphic organizers

http://www.sdcoe.k12.ca.us/score/actbank/torganiz.htm -- a description of graphic organizers

WebSiteshttp://www.teachnology.com/web_tools/graphic_org/ -- generators that enable you to make graphic organizers by filling out a simple form

http://curry.edschool.virginia.edu/go/edis771/notes/graphicorganizers/graphic/ -- a group of printable graphic organizers

http://www.proteacher.com/020067.shtml -- graphic organizer resources