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Graphic Organizers Support Reading and Writing
for intermediate and secondary grade students
Used in conjunction with reading and writing, graphic organizers enhance the ability to remember concepts, comprehend interrelationships among ideas, and understand abstract thinking. The visual nature of these tools provides a framework for students to organize and arrange information. As a student turns to written response, these insights will deepen and widen the ideas and content of a writing piece as well as give students a structure with which to organize their own text.
It is common for teachers to use graphic organizers as pre-writing tools. Consider using a variety of organizers in response to reading to aid students as they seek to understand characters, narrative text structures, informational texts and even word meanings. These visual tools are especially valuable in assisting students in understanding the structure of expository text, enabling them to remember what they read and to write  summary statements.
For example, use a web format to map what is learned about nutrition from the Kids Discover: Nutrition (2006), asking students to write about what they already knew or subsequently learned about the subject. In preparing students for a literary response prompt, use a web format to map the instances of “courage” found in reading To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, a Pulitzer prize-winning novel, first published in 1960. This exercise encourages students to seek elements of major themes in their future reading as well as provides an outline from which they can write about that theme in the literature response genre.
Graphic organizers can be found both in software and on the Internet. Inspiration™ (www.inspiration.com ) is a popular concept mapping software, which integrates the elements of outlining and visual diagramming. Do a Google search for “graphic organizers” to find a variety of free, downloadable templates online.
No matter where you find them, using graphic organizers is an effective way to facilitate interactive and focused discussions which, in turn support the process of comprehension. Try the following organizers as your students respond to narrative and informational texts:
| Understand Characters |
Describe character traits and find evidence from the reading to support. |
Inspiration® Character Web Template |
Show similarities and differences among characters. |
visit this site to create your own
Venn Diagram
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| Understand Narrative Text Structure |
Demonstrate how story structure builds suspense and channels plot events toward resolution. |
Inspiration® Story Triangle Template |
Discuss key elements in a story, including setting, characters, plot, events, and resolution. |
visit this site to download a Story Map
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| Learn About Biographies |
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Inspiration® Biographical Essay Template |
| Grasp Informational Texts |
Compare the similarities and differences between two things. |
Inspiration® Comparison Template |
Recognize that nonfiction and expository writing contain a main idea and supporting details.
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visit this site for help in teaching
what is the main idea |
| Analyze Word Meanings |
Explore and analyze words found in reading. |
Inspiration® Vocabulary Word Template
Inspiration® Definition Template
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Inspiration is a trademarked product of Inspiration Software, Inc. Product information, free demos and instructional resources can be found at their website: http://www.inspiration.com.
Reference: “Nutrition.” Kids Discover. (2006) Volume 16, Issue 6. New York: Kids Discover.
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