The document discusses the author's experience using graphic organizers to help students learn and retain information. It provides an overview of different types of graphic organizers like Marzano and Thinking Maps. It then lists online resources for graphic organizers and provides examples of how to create and use organizers for defining context, describing, cause-effect, classifying, relationships, and sequencing. The author shares how she transitioned from being skeptical of graphic organizers to believing in their power after seeing their success in helping language learners organize and recall information across subjects.

1. From Skeptic to Believer: The Power of Graphic Organizers
Erin Lowry , July 2010 erin.lowry@gmail.com
Abstract
Students often find it difficult to understand and retain information. Research shows that the
difference between good and poor learners is not the sheer quantity of what the good learner
learns, but rather the good learner’s ability to organize and use that information. The
presenter, once a skeptic herself, will share her success using graphic organizers to help
language learners visually display their ideas and discuss the benefits of repeated use of the
same organizers across content areas.
Types of Patterns
Marzano Thinking Maps
1. Describing 1. Brainstorming/Defining in
2. Time/sequence context
3.Process/cause-effect 2. Describing
4.Episode 3. Comparing/Contrasting
5.Generalization/principle 4. Classifying
6.Concept 5. Whole-Parts Relationships
6. Sequencing
7. Cause and effect
8. Seeing analogies
Online Resources
Designs for Thinking www.mapthemind.com
Thinking Maps, Inc. www.thinkingmaps.com
Enchanted Learning www.enchantedlearning.com/graphicorganizers/
Scholastic www.scholastic.com
Creating a Graphic Organizer Toolbox
My Example: Defining in Context/Brainstorming

2. From Skeptic to Believer: The Power of Graphic Organizers
Erin Lowry , July 2010 erin.lowry@gmail.com
My Example: Describing
My Example: Cause-Effect
My Example: Classifying

3. From Skeptic to Believer: The Power of Graphic Organizers
Erin Lowry , July 2010 erin.lowry@gmail.com
My Example: Relationships
My Example: Sequencing
What is it like?
Your choice: Your choice: Your choice:
Graphic
My explanation Visual maps of information
of graphic organizers:
What is it?
What arethat help learners understand
some examples?
Organizers
and retain information