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Graphic
Organizer
s

What are graphic organizers?

Graphic organizers are graphic displays that help students

comprehend information and ideas by visually organizing
their thoughts (Ozman, 2011). According to Dexter and
Hughes (2011), graphic organizers help students have a
more meaningful learning and help maintain information.
Ozmen (2011) stated that the students have a deep learning
when they are engaged in a productive learning activity.
They can help students make connections with main ideas
and make abstract concepts become concrete information.
Graphic organizers are essentially student-made study
guides that allow them to organize the information they are
receiving and create a tangible product.

References

Graphic Organizers can be used for

all subjects. Barton-Arwood and Little
(2013), stated graphic organizers are
useful with:
-

vocabulary words and concepts

that are difficult to comprehend
writing performances
o students can compare and
contrast, write in sequence,
and organize their writing
math calculations
o show the computational
processes and procedures

Barton-Arwood, S., & Little, M. (2013). Using graphic organizers to

access
the general curriculum at the secondary level. Intervention In
School And
Clinic, 49(1), 6-13.
Ciullo, S., & Reutebuch, C. (2013). Computer-based graphic
organizers for
students with LD: A systematic review of literature. Learning
Disabilities
Research & Practice (Wiley-Blackwell), 28(4), 196-210.
Dexter, D., & Hughes, C. (2011). Graphic organizer and students with
learning disabilties: A meta-analysis. Learning Disability
Quarterly, 34(1),
51-72.
Ozmen, R. (2011). Comparison of two different presentations of
graphic
organizers in recalling information in expository texts with

Graphic Organizers work

for:
* ELL students (Pang, 2013)
* Students with LD (Kim,
Vaughn,
Wanzek, and Wei, 2004)
* General Ed students (Barton
Arwood and Little, 2013)

Procedures for Implementations

1) Educators must first teach the students how to make their graphic organizers so that
the students are not just focusing on making them during lecture. (Ozmen, 2011)

2) Graphic organizers can be used as a pre, during, and post activity. Although research
shows graphic organizers are most effective when given to a student after a lesson
(Ozmen, 2011).
3) Graphic organizers can be documented easily. These are tangible products that can
show if the student has made comprehension of what was taught to him (Kim,
Vaughn, Wanzek, and Wei, 2004).
4) Students can benefit from graphic organizers because it allows them to organize their
thoughts through visual depictions of the concepts and main ideas (Kim, Vaughn,
Wanzek, and Wei, 2004).
5) Studies show that students with LD need content enhancement to help them fully

comprehend the text or lecture (Dexter and Hughes, 2011). Graphic organizers are
recommended to use as an instructional device to allow the students the
opportunities to enhance their comprehension of the topic.