BRENDAN C. A. MENG
Instructional Strategies Evidence
Instructional Strategies Navigation Menu
Instructional Strategies: Introduction
Collaborative & Group Learning
Direct Instruction
Graphic Organizers & Manipulatives
Spiraling of Skills: Graphing
Inquiry-Based Laboratory Investigations
Virtual Labs & Web-Based Learning
Vocabulary-Anchored Instruction
Whiteboarding
Instructional Strategies: Conclusion
Graphic Organizers & Manipulatives
Graphic organizers and manipulatives are one of my favorite instructional strategies to boost engagement while communicating essential content because of the way these instructional tools allow me to adapt content which appeals to my learners with special needs and any of my students who may learn best from additional visual organization of information. This instructional strategy specifically assists all my learners with organization, memorization, and recall of content and ideas through the presentation and use of multiple models and representations of concepts and skills contained within the various graphic organizers and manipulatives utilized throughout the year. By adding to the variety of resources I use to engage my students in learning, graphic organizers and manipulatives also provide additional opportunities for my students to develop and demonstrate their knowledge in various ways.
Often, I will include graphic organizers throughout guided notes. Pictured is a graphic organizer completing my biology students guided notes on the characteristics of living and non-living things.
I believe it is important for students to have the opportunity to organize the knowledge provided to them through guided notes and other instructional techniques on their own as a way for them to grapple with the material in a way that makes sense to them. This graphic organizer was reviewed for students to track their own learning and correct any misconceptions follow individual student work time.
Displayed is a completed volcano mobile graphic organizer created by one of my earth science students. As a way to hold students accountable for this learning activity, students were instructed that they could use their mobiles and the information they included on their earthquakes and volcanoes quiz.
Often, I will include graphic organizers throughout guided notes. Pictured is a graphic organizer completing my biology students guided notes on the characteristics of living and non-living things.