After this professional development, teachers will be able to:
1. self-assess their own learning styles.
2. explain the rationale and benefits of graphic organizers.
3. craft a plan for using graphic organizers in their classrooms.
Introduction: We all know that differentiated instruction is the way to go if we are to meet the needs of our students as individuals and keep them engaged in high-interest and high-level activities. Our students learn and achieve success as a result of their inherent learning styles and our willingness to teach them in those modalities.
Let's step back for a moment though. Do you know your learning style? Click here to complete this Index of Learning Styles Questionnaire. This short inventory should take no more than 5 minutes to complete. Write down your results for later on in this PD.
Graphic: From "One Size Does Not Fit All: Learning Style, Play, and On-line Interactives" by David Schaller - full article available by clicking here.
Graphic: From National Training Laboratories in Bethel, Maine - The Learning Pyramid!
Graphic Organizers - The Answer to the Quandry of Multiple Learning Styles Within One Classroom! Previous PDs have focused on alternative assessments as a cumulative assessment. Graphic organizers, when fully implemented into a classroom routine, can help students develop deeper vocabulary skills, process cause and effect, determine main idea and details, and learn abstract concepts. They can play an integral role in informal assessment as teachers check for understanding to confirm that students have learned what you have taught. Graphic organizers meet the learning styles of many students and, due to their "practice doing" factor, help them retain and connect information.
According to WriteDesignOnline:
"Graphic organizers are valuable instructional tools. Unlike many tools that just have one purpose, graphic organizers are flexible and endless in application. One common trait found among graphic organizers is that they show the order and completeness of a student's thought process - strengths and weaknesses of understanding become clearly evident. Many graphic organizers show different aspects of an issue/problem - in close and also the big picture. Since many graphic organizers use short words or phrases, they are ideal for many types of learners, including English Language Learners with intermediate proficiency. There are 5 main type of graphic organizers:
1. Star/web: Use to show definitions, attributes, examples, and brainstorming
2. Chart/Matrix: Use to show attributes, comparing and contrasting, and evaluating.
3. Tree/Map: Use to show classifications, pedigrees, analysis, structures, attributes, examples, and brainstorming.
4. Chain: Use to show processes, sequences, causes and effects, and chronology.
5. Sketch: Use to show physical structures, descriptions of places, spatial relationships, concrete objects, and visual images."
The most basic and frequently used organizers include Venn Diagrams, KWL Charts, and T Charts. The choices, however, are limitless! Websites abound with an abundance of graphic organizers. Try Eduplaces, which is underwritten by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. Teachervision has readily available (and free) graphic organizers in all subject areas.
VIDEO: Our very own Leslie Carlis discusses how she uses graphic organizers in her classroom and shows examples - the proof, however, is in the words of her student who explains how graphic organizers have benefited his learning:
Takeaway - On your way out of the PD Room today, please take a graphic organizer which you can implement into your content area.
TASKS: Please answer the following questions by posting your thoughts about learning styles and graphic organizers in the COMMENTS section at the bottom of this post.
1. Provide a brief analysis of the Learning Styles Inventory you took at the beginning of this PD. Were you surprised by the results, or did you already know your learning style? Do you find that you teach according to your own learning style, or does your instruction cover all styles?
2. Were you familiar with graphic organizers before this PD? If so, which ones do you utilize in your classroom? How successful have you been in implementing them into your instruction?
3. What one new strategy did you learn today? How will you implement it into your classroom over the next week?
4. After reviewing the PDs on foldables, choice boards, and tiered assignments, were you able to implement any of these strategies in your class?
Posting Instructions: PLEASE BE SURE THAT YOU ARE USING FIREFOX! IF YOU ARE IN INTERNET EXPLORER, CLOSE OUT AND OPEN UP THE FIREFOX BROWSER!
1. Click on the word COMMENT immediately below (there should be a number in front of the word "comment" - this means that other teachers have already responded). A text box marked "Leave Your Comment" will pop up. Please type your answers to the above questions in this box. Scroll down to "Choose Your Identity." Select NAME/URL. Type your last name into the NAME box (do NOT type anything in the URL box). Finally, click PUBLISH YOUR COMMENT.
2. Go back to the OHS PD website at http://ohspd.blogspot.com. Push the F5 button on the keyboard to refresh the screen. Your comment should appear.
1. Having taken one of these before, my results always tend to come out pretty accurately. As a very visual and sequential (step by step) learner, I definitely tend to teach in a similar method. For me, science is all about connecting concepts together as you move along through the year, and also connecting material to other subjects and real-life examples. Since chemistry is so microscopic and difficult to visualize, diagrams and pictures help me and hopefully my students understand difficult concepts.
ReplyDelete2. Yes, I try to use graphic organizers as much as possible. Today we will be making a Venn Diagram to compare and contrast 3 mystery liquids we were testing in the lab the past 2 days. Again, graphic organizers really help students organize their thoughts and draw connections between learned material.
My learning style is fairly balanced however, my one outlier is that I am extremely sequential. I like things ordered and am limited when I do not have a clear picture of what I am doing, why I am doing it and the steps to do the task.
ReplyDeleteThis is something I implement in my classroom as well, for better or for worse. As a result I have tried to use graphic organizers when we introduce new material and when we do larger reading tests. I have used graphic organizers such as trees, KWL charts, Venn Diagrams, frayer models and T-charts. These are common place in notes/ group work in my class.
I have saved the websites to further research new forms of graphic organizers. One graphic organizer I am interested in trying is the star/ web. I think this would be very successful in a foreign language classroom. I could use it to show the importance of root words. We could brainstorm all of the associated words in Spanish, look for patterns in structure, and then do the same with the root in English. (for example, the word carne)
I do use choice board for projects and group classword. I also used tiered assignments for group work and partner activity fairly well now.
1. I am more reflective than active, and more visual than verbal. The other two dimensions, I had a fairly middle-of-the-road score. I think I cover most learning styles -- though I'm probably weaker with addressing active learners.
ReplyDelete2. Yes, I'm familiar with graphic organizers. I recently did one in the form of a flower to clarify the structure of present tense verb conjugations. I also have several grammatical paradigms in the classroom
3. I could possibly use a web to visually represent related words.
4. I've developed a tiered reading assessment that is accessible to all levels, but provides layers of complexity for the more advanced students -- as well as choices for types of responses.
1. I am a visual learner. I need to see things. I am also an auditory learner. Ido not work well with my hands.
ReplyDelete2. I work with graphic organizers all the time! I work with then in relation to vocabulary. I also use them to compare different items.
3. I use Venn Diagrams to compare things like covalent and ionic bonds.
4. I have not added any yet, but at the end of my mammals unit we are going to do foldables.
1. I was not surprised by my results. Aside from being slightly more reflective, I tend to fall within the median.
ReplyDelete2. Yes, I am familiar with graphic organizers. In the world of fine arts, we are often the creators of said organizers, or some derivative.
3.I will consider using the Chain-it piqued my interest.
4. When dealing with Art History, I have used the tiered assignments, and found moderate success.
1. My learning style, as anticipated, is very visual and 'thinker' oriented. I understand things better when I have time to process.
ReplyDelete2. Yes. I use GOrganizers often. I find them very successful when preparing to write an essay (brainstorming) or when reviewing and analyzing stories.
3. I used Venn diagrams just this week to compare 2 different versions of the Romeo and Juliet balcony scene. Very good for post worksheet discussions.
4. I have continued to try to understand and implement tiered assignments in my classroom. City Year has been good at helping me implement this strategy.
1. I am in general a well rounded learner and fell in the middle of most of the categories. As a result, I am able to employ a variety of learning styles with my children.
ReplyDelete2. I am very familiar with using graphic organizers in my classroom. I use both note templates as well as webs to organize data.
My learning style was much as I had suspected, visual but still leaning towards the organization and presentation of facts, even though i am very visual i have been trained to process facts. I find that a blend of both is always the best answer, we must prepare students for basic college lectures.
ReplyDeleteThe graphic organizers are fabulous as a learning and study tool. The foldables organize and keep all the info in one place, and the T-chart is great for organizing math problems. I would like to try the Problem-Solution outline as well. I would like to try the sketch solutions also.
I have implemented the foldables and the students responded well, and the tiered assignments work bery well for a lot of students.
1. I am aware of my learning style and have a tendency to want to teach that way; knowing that I make attempts to include activities that will reach a wide and more diverse audience.
ReplyDelete2. I do use graphic organizers in my room...timelines, webs, and venn diagrams. I find that the kids enjoy using them because they are generating their own ideas and creating their own links to prior knowledge.
3. I will try the conversational roundtable this week with a discussion comparing the Great Depression with today's economic situation.
4. I have used the foldables to assist with vocabulary and found it very useful.
1. According to the results of the survey, I am an intuitive, sequential learner, with no particular preference for verbal or visual presentation of the material. I was, however, surprised by the fact that the results of the survey have also identified me to have no preference for active or reflective style.In my classroom, I try to incorporate several learning styles in both introductory and guided practice stages of instruction.
ReplyDelete2. I believe that graphic organizer is a wonderful tool that is extremely useful in all aspects of instruction. I have previously used concept maps, webs, diagrams, graphic, etc as introduction of new material, review strategy, homework assignment, as well as alternative assessment.
3. I am planning on using "chain" graphic organizers to review formation of black holes with physics students.
4. I have implemented tiered assessments and have received a relative improvement in student scores.
1. The resultsof the survey did not surprise me because I was already familiar with my own learning style. I d implement the use of strategies to meet my learning style but I also implement other strategies to support students who may learn in other ways, such as visual learners.
ReplyDelete2. I do use graphic organizers often in my classroom.
3. I will use a Venn diagram this week.
1. I always tend to be a mix of learning styles, which I think allows me to relate to my student's individual preferences. I have taken learning style inventories several times before. In the beginning of the year I always do learning style inventories with students. There is a district provided one that is short and simple for students. Doing this allows me to consider learning styles when creating assignments and student groups. It helps my students become self aware of their learning style and often times helps them understand their how their learning disability manifests.
ReplyDelete2. Graphic organizers have been extremely helpful in addressing the student need of notetaking skills. Even the most simple graphic organizers help my student understand that they should be writing and allow them to see where their notes should be on the paper. TimeforKids.com has a great selection of graphic organizers that are ready for print. They have been extremely useful in planning and saved me a bunch of time.
3. I definitely enjoyed seeing the array of graphic organizers. I will be bookmarking those sites so I can use them in the upcoming weeks.
4. Tiered assessments and foldables are great reviewing tools. We will be using them as we prepare for the final benchmark exam.
The learning inventory was a little long, but beneficial. I have plenty of graphic organizers but will visit write design on line for the latest organizers. Unfortuantely, the video wasn't working. I think department heads should meet and discuss which graphic organizers they want their teachers to use for the week. This will be great for Single School Culture.
ReplyDeleteLeslie Carlis
1. I am a visual learner as well as a sequential learner. I have to read a text or instructions in order to fully understand what is being asked of me. I was not surprised by the results, because I knew my learning style prior to this PD. I do find that I teach according to my own learning style, although I try to compensate for my Special Education students who have a variety of different learning styles.
ReplyDelete2. Yes I am very familiar with graphic organizers and use them in my classroom often. They have been very successful for my students to map out their thoughts, compare and contrast, draw conclusions and/or make inferences.
3. After reviewing the slideshow, I believe that the thumbs up, thumbs down method will be a great way to check for understanding. I have done fist of five in the past, however, think an easier variation will be more suitable for my students.
4. Yes, I have used tiered assignments in my classroom and am working on building in choice boards for the new book that we are starting.
1.
ReplyDeleteThe test indicated what I expected, that I am fairly well balanced in terms of my learning styles and try to teach to the wide array of learning styles in my classroom.
2.
I have relied mostly on Venn Diagrams and concept maps. I will do a Venn Diagram for Gas Laws Friday. My success has been mostly positive.
3.
I will be using Venn this week.
4.
I used a choice board for the stoichiometry project my students are completing and hav had mixed results.
1.The survey was very interesting. I lean more to the style that helps me learn, but I cover all styles.
ReplyDelete2.The music staff is a visual aid in its' self. It is very helpful in teaching the students to red music.
3.One strategy I will use more is the lecture strategy.
4.I haven't been able to implement the different strategies yet. I was going to make it apart of my final.
I already knew that I am a visual learner, although the survey told me that I am quite balanced. But I always try to not only show examples, make demonstrations as well as write out step by step instructions. I find all three to be beneficial to me and when I ask the students for feedback they always relay to me that one or all three of these techniques help them to understand the assignments.
ReplyDeleteI do use tiered assignments for almost all of my assignments.
1 I am a visual learner and a sequential learner
ReplyDeletethe survey was very interesting
1) I've taken similar assessments before and found the results to be quite accurate. I am a pretty balanced learner in most areas, but am more verbal than visual.
ReplyDelete2) I frequently use graphic organizers in my classroom. Students regularly use Venn diagrams to compare and contrast, character charts to or tree/map diagrams to keep track of the many characters in a novel or short story, or sequence charts to map plot.
3)I will use a spider map in class to help students map theme concepts
4) I use tiered assignments as review and extra credit towards the end of units.
I was not surprised of my learning style. I am forced at times to be flexible when learning. I become frustrated and find that I must exhale and keep an open mind. During my lesson planning,I am sensitive to the learning needs of my students and provide a variety of strategies in order to be fair to my students.
ReplyDeleteI was not familiar with organizers however I find the PD sessions to be informative and provide strategies that I will implement in my lesson planning. The foldable will definitely be used in my class and it also gives students time to be creative and reinforces learning when doing so.
I knew that I was a visual learner and the survey confirmed that. I have given my students a similar survey in the past, and the vast majority are also visual. I have to pay special attention to those who are verbal to take the extra time with them to get the point across. It is something that I have to be aware of. I have found the use of T-charts very useful for students because it forces them to show their thought process in solving problems and it helps to see where a student might make a mistake and help them solve the problem
ReplyDeleteI am a creative learner and have taken other tests to help me identify my learning style. I have also provided my students with tests designed to identify theirs. Most often my students have been identified as either tactile or visual learners. I teach special education so differentiation of instruction has always been an integral part of my lesson planning. I always incorporate at least two different learning styles per lesson. Story maps have always been an effective tool for me as they allow for the student to demonstrate understanding and comprehension.
ReplyDeleteThe survey confirmed my assessment. I am more a concrete learner. I am not surprised because I have taken several classes on Multiple Intelligence. The graphic organizers were helpful. Yes I will be using more in class. I also took a class on foldables and have been using them for a year now. I find the students retain the information for a longer length of time. They (the students) find foldables and graphic organizers "fun" learning.
ReplyDelete1. I am a visual learner, and am not surprised. In that category I scored a 9, every other category was a 1 - right in middle. I tend to utilize visual instruction when teaching, and find that most students learn in the same way. However I do try to incorporate other learning styles into my lessons.
ReplyDelete2. Yes I am familiar with graphic organizers. I use them in instruction often. I use sketches the most; I also use venn diagrams, KWLH charts, spiders webs and compare and contrast charts.
3. Today I learned that the KWLH chart has an "H" piece. I find the H category (How I can learn more) helpful in continuing learning about the topic. It seems it would drive student interest to learn more.
4. I have implemented strategies in my classroom and will continue to use them in the future.
I am a visual learner. This did not surprise me.
ReplyDeleteI have used graphic organizers. They are good when trying to keep students organized. I try to modify them to fit the students needs.
I have implemented foldables in my class. My students are required to create a foldable as a class project. Most think it is a great idea.
I have a learning style between 1-3 and Tend to flit back and forth between styles. I know my kids do the same.
ReplyDeleteI do use graphic organizers several times a week.
I used foldables again last week and the students really liked it and retained information
I am not surprised by my diversity in learning style. I must say that I ma balanced on the visual/verbal scale and that is a wonderful style for teaching.
ReplyDeleteI use Venn diagrams all the time and word map diagrams, (fish scale; trails & paths, etc.)
I look forward to using a foldable in my public speaking class for use in persuasive speeches for 30 second announcement practice and focal points.
This seems like a great way to engage the kids
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