Know-Want+to+Know-Learned+(K-W-L)+Strategy

Throughout our school year, we as a class will be using an instructional technique called a K-W-L chart. (created by Donna Ogle, 1986) This reading comprehension strategy will help ME (the teacher) activate YOUR (the students') prior knowledge by asking YOU what YOU already __**K**now__ about a particular topic; then YOU collaborating as a class or individually, will document what YOU __**W**ant__ to learn about that particular topic; and after reading YOU will discuss and document what YOU have __**L**earned__ about that particular topic. When utilizing this reading comprehension strategy, YOU (the students) will be applying your higher-order thinking skills which can help YOU to construct meaning from an assigned reading or topic being studied.

__As you can see from the above explanation, YOU  is always emphasized, making this particular strategy totally student centered. __

-A __**K-W-L chart**__ allows you as a student to add your thoughts/ideas about the particular topic by adding what you want to know, thus giving you a purpose to engage in the topic being studied.

-A __**K-W-L chart**__ completed at the start of a unit also allows me (the teacher) to see what questions and interests you have about a topic, which will help guide my instruction/planned activities throughout the unit, thus making the unit more enjoyable for you !

__**Check out this YouTube video briefly explaining the K-W-L Comprehension Strategy!**__ media type="youtube" key="p-f_6Mbd0dk" height="385" width="480"

__Here is what a K-W-L chart looks like! __

__

SOOO...how will we use these **K-W-L charts**? __ -I am glad you asked that question and below you will find a K-W-L word document which you will be using at the start and conclusion of every unit of study this year as well as step by step instructions on how to create your own K-W-L chart, save that word document and post it to your Blackboard account for me to review.

-I will be expecting __**TWO**__ K-W-L charts per unit. One K-W-L chart __at the start of the unit__ with the K and W columns filled in and the L column left blank; and __at the end of the unit,__ that same K-W-L chart with the L column filled in with what you learned.

-Please view the __K-W-L Rubric__ to view the techers expectations. __Directions: __

1. Establish your K-W-L chart by either hard copy or electronic format. The electronic format is preferable since you are going to be posting these K-W-L charts onto your Blackboard account, but if you run into a jam and no computer/internet is available a hard copy can and should be handed into the teacher. When your ready to create your own K-W-L chart click the KWL chart word document below and choose the __<span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">OPEN __with Microsoft Word option.



2. Once the K-W-L chart has opened in Microsoft Word, add your specific content. __<span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">-For example: __ Your name, Date, Fill in the K, W, and L columns (filling in __**AS MUCH**__ as you can!)

3. When you are finished creating your K-W-L chart, go to __<span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">FILE, __ __<span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">SAVE AS, __ (save to your H-Drive) and re-name the document <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">__KWL chart-last name-unit title-pre/post__ depending on if it is the beginning of the unit (pre) or conclusion of the unit (post). __<span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">-For example: __ if your name is Jane Doe and we are studying the Constitution: -your first chart name will be: __<span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">KWL chart-doe-constitution-pre __ -your second chart name will be: __<span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">KWL chart-doe-constitution-post __

4. After you have saved your K-W-L chart to your H-Drive, submit your chart to your Blackboard account by doing the following: [|-Log-in to Blackboard] -Click on the **__assignments tab__** on the left hand side on your screen -Click on the appropriate unit K-W-L chart assignment -Attach file by clicking on **__BROWSE__** -Select the file you wish to attach (double click it) -Click __attach file__ (IF YOU DO NOT CLICK THIS, YOUR FILE WILL NOT BE ATTACHED TO THE SUBMITTED ASSIGNMENT!) -Click on __**SUBMIT**__ at the bottom of the page __<span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;"> HELPFUL HINTS TO COMPLETE YOUR K-W-L CHART __ -Look back at your __**"K" column**__ and see if any of your prior knowledge was inaccurate and rewrite any of your statements so they are correct.
 * After reading the text...**

-Look at your __"**W" column**__ and check to see if any of your questions went unanswered. (Be prepared to bring these unanswered questions up in class, maybe one of your fellow classmates can answer it!)