Book Study: Worksheets Don't Grow Dendrites: Chapter 5 {Graphic Organizers}

Today I'm linking up with Michelle Oaks over at Fabulous in First to talk about chapter 5!  

Can you tell that I am REALLY enjoying this book? Like I said before, I read and find myself nodding my head vigorously because I'm already doing so much of it.  But can I just tell you that feels GOOOOOOD!?!!?  Remarkable, as a matter of fact. Have you ever reached that point where you say "I can't do ONE MORE NEW THING" "Leave me alone!!!!!!"  

Okay, first let me just say I try many, MANY new things every single year.  I just can't imagine sticking with the same 'ol same 'ol - but....I've reached my cap this year.  With the newness of a school-wide WIG {wildly important goal}, data notebooks, math workshop, Marzano, and other odds and ends...this brain couldn't hold one more new idea...so, this book has been a perfect pat on the back and brought some oldies but goodies to the forefront of my thinking - gotta love that!

Strategy 5:

Graphic Organizers, Semantic Maps, and Word Webs

"They address both the left and the right hemispheres of students, so they are beneficial to all.  The students strong in the left-hemisphere can supply the verbage, and the right-hemisphere students have the option of showing what they know pictorially." {Marcia Tate}

Who doesn't like the sound of that?  Are you like me?  I go through hills and valleys with things. I use something a ton, and then for some reason, something else takes their place and I temporarily forget about that other thing I used to do.  That's me with graphic organizers.  I was using them a ton.  I've purchased several awesome packs of them on Teachers Pay Teachers! I also try really hard to make my own on chart paper....mind you, I don't have an artistic bone in my body!

After reading this chapter, I just know I have to incorporate them into my teaching more than I currently am....why?

"Because the brain remembers images more easily than just words, graphic organizers are one of the tools that are effective for organizing patterns." {Feinstein, 2004}

But...

My brain is not wired for graphic organizers.  I don't know - is there another hemisphere?  They have never helped me and as a matter of fact, sometimes I get so caught up in understanding how a particular one works and what it's trying to teach me - that the concept has been lost for me.  

Having said that...I do realize they work for most!

A goal of mine, after reading this chapter, is to not only use them more than I have been in my classroom - but have my students create their own!

"Having students create a mind or concept map is a meaningful strategy for helping them make sense  of and learn vast amount of new content" {Budd, 2004}

Do you use graphic organizers in your classroom?  Do you use them across the content areas or do you find that you use them more in one area than another?  Is there anybody out there like me, that doesn't find them particularly helpful in their own learning? {I know, I could be completely alone here - wouldn't be the first time - HA!}

Head on over to Michelle's blog to visit other bloggers who shared their thinking on this same topic!