Graphic Organizers
There is a growing body of knowledge about effective strategies associated with the use of graphic organizers to support English Language Development (ELD) instruction and support content area learning among second-language learners. Here are some resources that provide information and ideas about the use of graphic organizers to support student learning.
Introductory Materials
Thinking Maps: A Language for Learning
This page offers the big ideas behind Dr. David Hyerle’s Thinking Maps and how they relate to human thought processes.
Thinking Maps: Student Examples
This page shows examples of each of the eight types of Thinking Maps: circle, bubble, double bubble, flow, multi-flow, brace, tree, and bridge.
Aiming High Resource Brief: Thinking Maps (pdf)
This SCOE publication from 2005 highlights Thinking Maps as an effective instructional strategy for English learners. It provides an overview and profiles schoolwide implementation of Thinking Maps at Roosevelt Elementary School in Long Beach.
Video: Graphic Organizers in Action
Contractions and Compound Words | Dec 2011
Students in teacher Debra McCampbell’s class sort contractions and compound words using a Tree Map. The lesson also showcases a variety of effective ELD instructional strategies.
Teaching Adjectives, 4th Grade | Feb 2011
This is the first of a series of SCOE videos on supporting ELD instruction with graphic organizers. Here, teacher Debra McCampbell uses a Tree Map to teach adjectives.
Web Resources
Thinking Maps, Inc.
This is Innovative Learning Group’s Thinking Map website. The site provides introductory information concerning circle maps, bubble maps, double bubble maps, flow maps, multi-flow maps, brace maps, tree maps, and bridge maps.
Makes Sense Strategies: GraphicOrganizers.com
Developed by Dr. Edwin Ellis, this website features ideas and information about the uses of graphic organizers to support all students.
Graphic Organizers for Content Instruction
This site was developed by EverythingESL. It posts downloadable files of classroom activities using graphic organizers.
Index of Graphic Organizers
Consider the graphic organizers at this website. Do you think some are more effective or appropriate at particular grade levels? Which would be most useful for your students?
SCORE: Graphic Organizers
Information found at the SCORE website includes clustering, compare/contrast, family
tree, interaction online, problem/solution, spider, storyboard, and Venn diagram.
Alaska Curriculum Framework Project: Graphic Organizers
Alaska’s Department of Education and Early Development offers organizers for webbing, content/concept maps, KWL charts (What We Know, Want to Know, Learned), hypercard, outlines, timelines, flow charts, and Venn diagrams.
Graphic Organizers that Support Specific Thinking Skills
This site offers simple descriptions of graphic organizers like bubble maps, Venn diagrams, and flow charts.
