Tools for Thinking

Graphic Organizers

• Samples
  • Freeman G. The Graphic organizer. http://www.graphic.org/goindex.html  
  • Kipperman D. & McKinstry M. Write design online: Graphic organizershttp://www.writedesignonline.com/organizers/    
  • Schools of California Online Resource Education. Graphic organizers. http://www.sdcoe.k12.ca.us/score/actbank/torganiz.htm  
  • Somers Central School District . Graphic Organizers that Support Specific Thinking Skills. Lincolndale/Sommers, New York. http://www.somers.k12.ny.us/intranet/skills/thinkmaps.html

Start up:

• Brainstorm ways students can take notes and the possitives/negatives of each suggestion

Graphic Organizers to Support Learning

• Example Lessons http://resources.emints.org/modresources/examples/inquirybased/index.shtml
• Review lessons and indicate what kind of organizer students might benifit from

Implementation Evaluation Cards

• Higher level thinking? Does the activity on the card use the tools to promote higher level thinking

Introduction to SMART Ideas or Inspiration

• Download trials of SMART Ideas or Inspiration
• Overview of basics (templates, connectors, graphics...)
• Teachers practice by creating a generic web for writing a simple story
• "What are the uses for this tool in the classroom?"

Creating a Template for your classroom

• http://missouri.emints.org/central/ct1/images/DecisionTree.jpg