Graphic Organizers

Even confident writers who have been given ample quality writing experiences in lower elementary grades, may have trouble writing as they enter middle school where they are asked to write longer selections on more complicated subjects. The use of graphic organizers can help students organize their ideas in such a way so that they can then take those ideas and put them together in the form of a composition that flows naturally and is easy to understand.

There are a multitude of graphic organizers available to suit almost any purpose or academic level. However, students may not automatically be able to organize their thoughts simply because they are presented with a graphic organizer. It is a good idea for teachers that choose to utilize graphic organizers to train their students in the use of various ones. Some students may need repeated teacher demonstration and opportunities for practice.

Overloading students with too many graphic organizers may not be beneficial for them. Instead of the intended effect of helping them to organize their thoughts, students may end up confused by all the choices. Therefore, it is probably best for teachers to select only a few that they feel would best support the activities they have planned in their curriculum. Story maps and character webs are examples of graphic organizers that are widely used by many teachers.

Although I have utilized some graphic organizers in the past, I cannot say that I have trained my students in their use. I do feel it will be worthwhile for me to take the time to teach them how to use specific graphic organizers. I believe this will allow them to take ownership of many strategies that they can eventually independently apply as needed to organize their thinking.