Math
Using Graphic Organizers for Math
In math, as in language arts, graphic organizers can help students see and relate to information in a different way. Graphic organizers help students make connections between pieces of information. Venn diagrams, or set diagrams, help students to group objects by characteristics. These sets of overlapping circles or ovals allow students to see the objects that have different characteristics as well as the objects that share characteristics. Sum and Difference graphic organizers provide places for students to write or type addition or subtraction problems. Students write different ways to reach the correct sum or difference. Seeing the different ways together can help students make connections in their learning. Pie charts help students visualize fractions by dividing a circle into the correct number of “slices”. Sometimes this very visual representation of the parts of a whole helps students make connections they couldn’t easily make by simply looking at the numbers. No matter which kinds of graphic organizers you use in math, they will help your students learn by helping them organize and visualize information in a new way.
