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graphic organizers to meet the needs of one’s students is an easy way to maximize
the effectiveness of the strategy. The template in Figure 1 closely follows Gould at
al.’s Four Square Method (2010) but is adapted to fit the needs of individual students
and the assignment of an informational essay. It includes a hook, topic sentence,
three facts, two examples for each fact, and then a restatement of the topic sentence,
facts, and hook. Rather than having four quadrants, it has five, as the expectation for
the writing assignment is a five-paragraph essay rather than four. Students are able
Dr. Nicole Smith is a to make the connection that each section of the organizer is designed to be its own
past president of Alpha paragraph, which then allows them to visualize the sectioning and organization of
Iota Chapter in Nebraska their work as they are writing.
State Organization. As an
instructional coach and
UNO CADRE Associate in Figure 1
Bellevue Public Schools, Graphic Organizer Template
she embraces working
with first-year teachers
and aiding them in
continuing their research.
nicole.smith@bpsne.net
Graphic Organizers in Practice
Explicitly teaching students how to use the graphic organizer through modeling
and guided practice will ensure that students understand the purpose of using
graphic organizers and promote correct usage. Modeling is essential to teaching a
8 The Delta Kappa Gamma Bulletin: International Journal for Professional Educators