Beyond Word Webs: Using Graphic Organizers in the ABE Classroom

Beyond Word Webs:Using Graphic Organizers in the ABE Math ClassroomLaura PrettymanAEOALaura.prettyman@aeoa.orgPromote MN1What are graphic organizers?Diagrams organizing or highlighting key informationClearly labeled main branch and sub-branchesNumbers, arrows, or lines showing sequence

2Why use graphic organizers?Help students develop a problem-solving planHelp students identify key informationGood for students with disabilitiesCan be with low-levels through transitionsIntroducing graphic organizersDirect InstructionReview prior knowledgePresent organizerGuided practiceCorrections and/or feedbackIndependent practiceWeekly and monthly reviewsTeachers may want to distribute partially filled out GOs for students to fill out/blank templates/volunteer complete on the board to scaffold.

4Teacher-DirectedStudent-DirectedProvide partially completed organizerHave students read information or problemsProvide direct teacher instruction of readings while completing identical organizerFill out organizer with class

Students complete organizer using prompts.Teacher acts as facilitator.Students may check answers on teacher copy.

Teacher-Directed

STUDENT-DirectedPrompts: teacher might give students page numbers or paragraph numbers to fill out GOCould also give headings, key facts, or topics

Teacher as facilitator: moves around classroom giving feedback

5What to organize?Choose passages that:Are 1500 words or lessFit the organizer you are teachingMay be difficult for students to understand

1500 might be a lot for our students.

Is material compare and contrast? Hierarchical? Sequence?6Webs I know I made fun of webs in the title of this presentation, but they do have their place in the math classroom!

Many uses:-Pre-assess: what do you know about the topic?-Review-Note-taking

These activities are helpful:-at all levels. Can be adapted for lower levels, etc.-interactive-encourage critical thinking and problem-solving skills-often very open-ended. Yay!

Writing Equivalent FormsGive a statement in the center of the web and ask students to fill in equivalent forms. (Can you find eight more ways to write 80/100?)

Reverse WebsGive info on some of the legs. Ask students to figure out what should go in the middle. Brainstorm as a group to fill in missing legs.

Four Operations WebOnly FOUR legs. Label each +,-, x, / . Put a number in the center of the web hand have students create expressions for each operation leg to equal the number in the middle. Can be whole numbers, proper/improper fractions, negative numbers, algebraic fractions, etc. 7

Story Problems

Many students hate story problems.

Learners often miss steps in multi-step problems.

GOs can be a way to organize info in problem and order steps.

Several options.

Helps students who are thinking, Where do I even begin? 9Jon and his two brothers split the cost of renting a hunting shack for a deer hunting trip. Daily rental was $89.50. If they rent the shack for six days, how much is each brothers share of the rental cost?Re-SaySummarize the problem in your own words. Some guys are going on a hunting trip and want to split the cost of renting a cabin.What do you need to do first? (Students may have more than one way of solving a problem.)What do you need to do next?Is there another step?Check to see if your answer makes sense!10How many hours will a car travelling at 65 miles per hour take to catch up to a car travelling at 55 miles per hour if the slower car leaves one hour before the faster car?Hour1234567Slower car55110165220275330385Faster Car065130195260325390Sometimes, making a grid is a good way to solve story problems.

Shows patternsGood Pre-algebra skill builder

On the board:The printer in the media center can print 1 page every 30 seconds. The printer in the office can print 4 pages every 30 seconds. If both printers are printing at the same time, how many pages will the office printer have printed by the time the media center prints 5 pages?11BenJackPaulBen scored 7 more points than Jack in a basketball game. Paul scored 2 points less than Jack in the same game. If the three boys scored a total of 38 points, how many points did Jack score?

Math SortsHands onGood for low-level learnerDevelops critical thinking/categorizing skills needed for new GED

Math MatchesRule of Four Link Helps students Visualize multiple approaches to problem-solvingMake connections between representationsUnderstand the connections Communicate understanding

http://www.umassmed.edu/MathGraphicOrganizers.aspx

http://www.umassmed.edu/MathGraphicOrganizers.aspxSplashesOften used in conjunction with Rule of Four LinkDifferent way to review informationGreat for small groups

http://www.umassmed.edu/MathGraphicOrganizers.aspxMath Vocabulary & Note TakingStudents need Explicit instructionRepeated practiceOpportunities to explore examplesTo learn a new word, students without a learning disability require 10 11 exposures to the word. Students with a learning disability require as many as 40 exposures to the word.

Vocab instruction in math is important for transitions, GED, etc.

Students could easily solve, What is 6 plus three? but may hesitate to attempt, Find the sum of six and three. 23Frayer Model or Information FrameWorCommutative Property of AdditionWords:Changing the order of addends doesnot change the sum.Numbers:

4+3 = 3+4Algebra:

a + b = b + aExample:

Use for mental math calculations23 + 19 + 7 = 23 + 7 + 19Originally a reading GO based on the work of Dr. Dorothy Frayer (1974).

Connects concepts by relating words and terms.

Good to use at beginning of unit or when introducing new terms/ideas24Term BoxTerm: ________________Examples Definition from math book:

Definition in your own words:Non-ExamplesExtensionSketch or give two non-examples of _________________.Sketch or give two examples of _____________________.Give two examples of how _________is used in the real world. Sometimes used with Frayer model.

For example: Types of triangles , rational numbers, etc

Parallel 25 Vocab Note BoxConceptExplanationExampleSlope of a lineSlope intercept formy intercepty = (0, b)http://usablealgebra.landmark.edu/instructor-training/beneficial-practices/Slope is the ratio of the vertical change to the horizontal change in a line. Slope = mm = change in y change in xy = mx + b m = slope b = y intercepty = -3x-2 m = -3 1 b = (0, -2)Where a given line crosses the y axisVocab instruction OR Note-taking

Essential but often overlooked skill for transtion to college.May need to take notes in workplace.

It is beneficial to explicitly teach note-taking strategies to ABE students. -may have never learned to take notes-may not know how to decide what to write down-often lack organizational structure in notesBe consistent with GO until students understand it and are able to use it on their own.-Start out by introducing the GO.-Hand out practice sheets which are already filled in.-Fill out together as you do your lesson. (Helpful to have volunteer filing one out on the board the first few times.)A note-taking GO-neatly organizes information-is a good study aid-gives learners an outline to help see which information is important

26ReferencesUniversity of Massachusetts Regional Resource Centerhttp://www.umassmed.edu/MathGraphicOrganizers.aspxMath Graphics Organizers for Students with Disabilitieshttp://www.k8accesscenter.org/training_resources/mathgraphicorganizers.aspThink Literacy: Cross Curriculum Approacheshttp://oame.on.ca/main/files/thinklit/FrayerModel.pdfAssociation for Middle Level Educationhttp://www.amle.org/Publications/MiddleSchoolJournal/Articles/November2009/Article4/tabid/2083/Default.aspxCenter for Urban Education http://teacher.depaul.edu/Teacher Visionhttp://www.teachervision.fen.com/math/problem-solving/48897.html?for_printing=1&detoured=1Universal Design of College Algebrahttp://usablealgebra.landmark.edu/instructor-training/beneficial-practices/