Using Graphic Organizers to teach Reading to English Language Learners
Teachers continue to search for ways to engage the English Language Learner
(ELL) in reading lessons, specifically, activities in instruction that focus on
building comprehension skills. In an attempt to assist instructors with their
search, this course has been developed.
Identifying strategies that use graphic organizers, visuals and other diagrams
helps ELLs in understanding story plots, characters and details. These
strategies are useful because students can then make the association in the L1to the information in the L2.
English Language learners find text easier when they have an overview of
concepts before reading the chapter (Reiss, 2005). A strategy effective for
allowing students the overview needed before reading is by using methods that
allow the students to see, write and hear. Simple note taking is a great teaching
aid to use. The teacher can create two column charts that allow students to
identify main ideas (two to three word clues should be given) and details with
examples.
Learning logs are another great tool to use. Learning logs are journals based on
reading assignments from the text. The teacher can create a table where the
student will identify pages in the text that were not understandable, new or
difficult words, questions that the students may have.
Diagrams, maps and charts give the ELL student a visual outline of concepts in
reading test. These aids can be developed in many forms.
Sequence pictures allow English Language Learners another way of
understanding text by showing pictures or drawings arranged according to story
sequence. The teacher can assist the learner in adding text to the pictures after
assuring that they understand the pictures sequence.
Graphic organizers are provided ELLs another visual representation of concepts.
Graphic organizers can be developed for use in all content areas. Graphic
organizers are productive means for English Language Learners to demonstrate
and show what they know.
Additional strategies that will be addressed are:
3-2-1
Vocabulary Word Maps
Comparison-Contrast Charts
Venn diagrams
History Maps-Story Frames
5 W’s
Story Map
K-W-L Charts
Inquiry Chart
Graphic Organizers
Picture Walks
TPR Storytelling
Story WEB