Teaching Strategies - KWL Charts

In EDCI 352 we are required to keep an up-to-date double entry journal about class events, strategies, and theories behind reading and literacy in the classroom.  

The first strategy we learned was the KWL Chart. I was first exposed to the KWL chart last term in my English methods class (EDCI 747). 

What is a KWL Chart?

A KWL Chart is a type of visual organizer which allows students to discuss what they already know about the topic, what they want to know about the topic, and what they learned about the topic. In order for this strategy to work well, the KWL chart should be easily accessible to the students so they can refer to it often.  This strategy is a fantastic pre-unit strategy.

How do the students create a KWL Chart?

Materials: paper, pen

Procedure:

1. Fold a blank piece of paper into thirds so there are three columns for the students to write in

2. Each column will have a different title: Know, Wonder, Learn

3. Have students brainstorm what they know, what they wonder or want to know in their respective columns

4. The "Learn" column will remain empty - this column will be filled out during the course of the unit and completed at the end of the unit because it represents what the student has learned about the topic

There are obviously many variations to the KWL chart. Below are photographs of a KWL Chart that I created for EDCI 352:

Reflection:

I particularly like this strategy simply because it gives the students a chance to engage in the subject matter. They are given the opportunity to show case what they already know, inquire about what they want to know, and then go back at the end of the unit/class to make sure all of their questions are answered.

I would definitely use this strategy in both of my teaching areas (English and Social Studies) to start a unit; it would give the students a starting point as well as provide them with a chance to return full circle at the end of the unit. A lot of the time we start units and plan lessons that build solely on the previous class without every creating meaning or returning to the starting point, which makes testing the beginnings of units arbitrary and kind of mean.