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Created by Lenore Cortina Ed.D. ©2013 Rutgers University Gifted Education Certificate Program  

Tiered Graphic Organizers

Graphic organizers are used frequently in schools as tools to help students organize information. They can be used across disciplines and at all grade levels. Modifying graphic organizers that you are already using in your classroom to raise the level of academic demand for advanced learners is a low preparation strategy that can enhance learning for all students. By modifying and tiering a graphic organizer, rather than giving your students completely different organizers, you are allowing all of your students to engage with the same thinking skills and concepts. You are differentiating the process by which students engage with the content and at times, you are elevating the content for your advanced learners. By adapting your existing graphic organizers to make them suitable for varied readiness levels, you can address the pacing issues that often frustrate students and teachers. The increased level of demand will keep your gifted learners focused on the work at hand, and support your struggling learners. If advanced students engage with extension materials, the whole class could benefit if groups were asked to share the work when the task is completed. Examples in a differentiated classroom: Most teachers have used a Venn diagram to teach students how to compare and contrast. Adding a third circle (or more) to the Venn diagram can add a complex layer to an analysis of factors. In this example, the lesson is focused on the economic concept of supply and demand. The class might compare the differing perspectives of supply and demand held by different stakeholders. By adding the third circle, politicians, the teacher is requiring an advanced understanding of the political influences on commerce through the eyes of a policymaker.  

Created by Lenore Cortina Ed.D. ©2013 Rutgers University Gifted Education Certificate Program  

The following is an example of a Cause and Effect graphic organizer, often used in history or social studies lessons. This organizer could easily be applied to science, literature, or math. In the example below, the graphic organizer is used with a unit on the Revolutionary War. To raise the level of demand for advanced students, teachers might add (it can be as simple as a ruler and pencil addition) one or more columns to the basic cause and effect chart. By asking advanced students to consider influences on the causes, they are required to dig deeper into the understanding that there is complexity to causes. By extending the effects to include long-term consequences, students are forced to think critically. These types of modifications to graphic organizers are a simple way to extend learning for advanced students.

Tiered graphic organizers extend the underlying concepts of a unit beyond factual knowledge and require students to engage critically with the material. Timelines: Timelines are graphic organizers that help students to develop chronological thinking. Students could be asked to add additional information (bios, inventions, etc.) to the timeline that is assigned to the whole class. However, to extend critical thinking, teachers may ask students to create parallel timelines. In this way, students are comparing series of events across time, a much higher level thinking experience.

 

Industrial Revolution Timeline

     Technological Revolution Timeline