Using Graphic Organizers To Differentiate Instruction

Easy Ways to Easy Ways to Differentiate With Differentiate With

Graphic Graphic OrganizersOrganizers

Why use graphic organizers?

• Graphic organizers (GOs) help students to gather, sift through, organize, and share

information.  

• These types of activities help students retain information they’ve learned for a longer period of time.

• Students with low literacy skills, limited English fluency, and diverse learning styles can often process information in a GO more easily

than from traditional text.

• GOs help students to focus their thoughts for planning, decision making and writing.

• They allow the mind to see connections, patterns, and

relationships (the big picture).

• They almost always incorporate higher-level thought.

And best of all……• They are easy to modify for all

types of learners!

How can I keep students working in

their “challenge zones” with GOs?

Based on students’• Readiness

– skill levels– background knowledge

• Learning Profile– learning style (visual, auditory, kinesthetic)– grouping/environmental preferences

• Intelligences/Interests– thinking style (creative, practical, analytic or musical,

interpersonal, linguistic, etc.)– What topics motivate the students?

you can…

Vary the resources used to fill out the GO

– For some students, provide information in cut and paste format or with a ‘bank’ of words or pictures.

– For others, provide information on the GO or in a handout.

Ancient Egypt arose on the Nile River. It was surrounded by deserts. The Egyptians built Pyramids which served as tombs for their pharaohs. Egyptian worshipped many gods. Ra was the god of the sun…………...

Students have to process the information to put it in the GO.

– Direct some students to their notes to find information

– Direct others to book(s), magazines, or internet sites to find information (some students may require page or paragraph numbers)See

page 48 for help!

Use the links I

posted on our Fusion

page!Don’t justGoogle it!

– Some students could complete the GO without referring to any outside resources

Modify the organizer– Students can be given a blank organizer, or copy the GO onto

their own paper.

Offer a choice– Allow students a choice of

organizers to display the same information.

– Students can use software programs like Inspiration, or download organizers off the internet and type or paste pictures onto them.

Life Cycle Chart

Type here

Type here

Type here

Type here

Type here

name

Which was the worst war in history?

Casualties Damage to Places

Long Term

Damage to Society

Vietnam

World War I

World War II

pgs.90-91

pgs.32-35

pgs.54-59

–Parts of the organizer (categories, examples) can be

filled out for some and not others.

Example answer

Example answer

Example answer

– The amount of information or detail to be included in the graphic organizer can be varied.

– You can incorporate higher-level thinking skills, prior knowledge, and real world applications for

students who are ready to accept the challenge.

– Students can be grouped (similar ability or mixed ability) to work collaboratively

on graphic organizers. They will be discussing, doing, and teaching!

– Provide examples of graphic organizers for some (filled-out or blank)

Some students can create their own graphic organizers

– Optimize creativity for others by minimizing the amount of

direction given

GOs are not always right for everyone

• Students can be given a ‘menu’ of Students can be given a ‘menu’ of options to demonstrate options to demonstrate understanding of a concept – and understanding of a concept – and one of them could be a GO. one of them could be a GO.

• Some students can be given a graphic organizer to help them complete a specific task, while others complete the task more

independently.

• Managing Learning - Secondary - Differentiation (video)

http://www.teachers.tv/video/2748(1st half of video only)

– http://www.education-world.com/tools_templates/index.shtml

– http://www.greece.k12.ny.us/instruction/ela/6-12/tools/index.htm

– http://www.sw-georgia.resa.k12.ga.us/Math.html– http://terpconnect.umd.edu/~eleigh1/go.html

– http://www.teachers.tv/video/2748– http://www.thecenterlibrary.org/cwis/cwisdocs/pdfs/benefits-graphic-

organizers.pdf

Resources