The Literacy Dive Podcast: Reading and Writing Strategies for Upper Elementary Teachers and Parents - 142. Using Graphic Organizers to Support Quality Written Responses

142. Using Graphic Organizers to Support Quality Written Responses

10/16/23 • 21 min

The Literacy Dive Podcast: Reading and Writing Strategies for Upper Elementary Teachers and Parents

As literacy teachers, our goal is to develop skilled readers and writers. And although we want our students to be independent in these areas, providing them support actually helps them master literacy skills to become independent. One of my favorite ways to support my students in writing is through using graphic organizers. In this episode, I’m sharing why using graphic organizers can be used to support quality written responses.

There is so much power in using simple supports that scaffold students into writing about reading. Graphic organizers are an easy support for students while also benefiting them as they structure their ideas to easily craft a written response. In order for you to use graphic organizers in the most effective way, I outline my process as to how I introduce them to students, ways students interact with them, and how it ultimately creates a well-developed written response.

In upper elementary, we want our students to be strong in their written responses in regard to reading. As I’ve established, using graphic organizers is one of the best ways to do that. These visual tools provide a clear framework for analyzing texts and generating thoughtful responses. So, take some time this week and implement and practice written responses using graphic organizers and see your students thrive in their writing skills.

Show Notes: https://theliteracydive.com/episode142

Resources Mentioned:

Connect with Me:

Join The Daily Writing Disguise Membership here
Shop my TpT store here
Check out TDWD Collections here
Receive emails from me here
Follow me on Instagram here
Read my blog posts here

Show Notes: https://theliteracydive.com/episode142

Resources Mentioned:

Connect with Me:

Join The Daily Writing Disguise Membership here
Shop my TpT store here
Check out TDWD Collections here
Receive emails from me here
Follow me on Instagram here
Read my blog posts here

Previous Episode

141. A 5-Step Read Aloud Routine to Expose Your Students to Diverse Texts

As literacy teachers we want to create an environment that helps develop students into skilled readers and writers. And although they’re often taught in isolation, both actually compliment each other. One way to incorporate both reading and writing is through read alouds, which has the added benefit of exposing students to a variety of genres. In today’s episode, I’m sharing my very simple 5-step read aloud routine that helps students discover diverse texts.

Most students don’t venture out beyond their comfortability with book genres on their own, which is why it’s our job to expose them to more diverse texts. And since read aloud time is already incorporated into your literacy block, it’s the perfect opportunity to bring in various genres. My quick and easy 5-step routine models what students should do while also piques their interest in new books. Additionally, I share how your chosen read aloud book can be repurposed towards writing skills.

We know that exposing students to different genres can positively impact their reading and writing skills, which is why it’s so important to find an easy way to seamlessly implement it into your day. By choosing diverse texts to highlight during your read aloud time, you will begin to engage students in diversifying their book selections.

Show Notes: https://theliteracydive.com/episode141

Resources Mentioned:

Join my Daily Writing Disguise

Connect with Me:

Join The Daily Writing Disguise Membership here
Shop my TpT store here
Check out TDWD Collections here
Receive emails from me here
Follow me on Instagram here
Read my blog posts here

Next Episode

143. Level Up Reading Comprehension Strategies with 11 Think-Aloud Prompts

Our goal as literacy teachers is to develop skilled readers and writers, so we often implement strategies that have students work on those skills. And while those strategies are effective and work, for our struggling readers, it may not be enough. Therefore, by incorporating a think-aloud strategy, your students will be able to hear and see how a skilled reader interprets a text. In this episode, I’m sharing 11 think-aloud prompts that will level up your students’ reading comprehension.

Using a think-aloud strategy, teachers pause and share what they’re thinking while reading a text, which can include prediction, analysis, synthesis, and more. We want students' internal processing to become automatic, which is why it’s important to implement this strategy during times when it’s natural to think critically about texts. During those times, I also discuss what you should model, how to incorporate this think-aloud strategy, and examples that demonstrate how to model it with your students.

Incorporating this think-aloud strategy effectively will require you to be aware of your own thought processes while reading and verbalize them in a way that is accessible to students. By pausing for intentional think-alouds, you can share your thoughts to help all readers think critically about a text and level up their reading comprehension.

Show Notes: https://theliteracydive.com/episode143

Resources Mentioned:

Connect with Me: