KWL Charts are a great strategy to use with your students to help them build knowledge and process information. A KWL chart is an excellent tool to help students dig deeper into their learning. I really like the tried and true graphic organizers we have been using for years; however, I didn’t want my students to feel like they were repeating the same thing they did in younger grades. I have renovated the traditional KWL chart to make it more appealing to middle school students.
I use a KWL chart when previewing a text or concept for the first time. It is great for content area subjects or when reading non-fiction. Students like structure when reading non-fiction or viewing a content area video, so giving them a graphic organizer to collect and organize their thoughts can be a tool that makes them want to write.
KWL charts work well in middle school classrooms because they encourage active learning, help students understand the material, and retain what they are learning.
Here is a detailed guide on how to use a KWL chart in the middle school classroom.
The Importance of Using KWL Charts in the Middle School Classroom
What is a KWL Chart?
A KWL chart is a graphic organizer that helps students track their learning process. There are three columns:
- K: What I Know
- W: What I Want to know
- L: What I Learned
Here is a breakdown of each column:
For What I Know, students activate their prior knowledge about a topic. So, before a lesson or unit, they’ll write down everything they know about the subject. It can help teachers gauge their students’ understanding and help students recall what they have previously learned.
For What I Want to Know, students can set learning goals by identifying questions about the topic or things they are curious about. This can help personalize the learning experience, encourage inquiry-based learning, and add motivation.
For What I Learned, students can reflect on what they have learned during the lesson or unit. They can note what they learned and address any questions they had in the previous column. From here, you can have students apply this knowledge to real-world situations or cross-disciplinary connections.
What are the Benefits of Using KWL Charts
Using KWL charts in the middle school classroom has many benefits. Not only do they encourage active learning, but they can enhance student engagement.
Students actively participate when using KWL charts, and through this method, they connect with new information and are encouraged to organize their information. When students take ownership of their learning goals, they are more likely to stay focused on the lesson as they are encouraged to find answers to their questions.
KWL charts can also help build critical thinking skills in students and promote inquiry-based learning. They encourage students to formulate questions and then seek answers to those questions.
They can help students to work together when used as a group activity. Students would share what they know and what to learn, and through shared perspectives, they can have a deeper understanding of the topic or lesson.
Lastly, KWL charts are fantastic for differentiation. Middle schoolers often have a broad range of prior knowledge, so when they fill out their charts, the teacher can see how much each student knows and plan lessons that meet the needs of all learners. Students can focus on different parts of the lesson and explore the content at their own pace.
How To Use KWL Charts
Introduce and explain the KWL chart.
First, it’s important to explain the purpose of the KWL chart. How will it help students organize their thoughts? How will it help them track their learning process? To demonstrate how to use it, you can put a KWL chart onto a document camera and complete the sections with your students to show them how it works. Use a topic they already know so that they can understand each column.
Start With The K Column – What Do You Know?
When starting a new topic or lesson, ask students to write down what they already know to help activate prior knowledge. You can then have the class discuss what they know together.
Next, The W Column – What Do You Want To Know?
Give students a chance to think about the topic or lesson and write down any questions about it or anything they want to know. This is an excellent way for students to set learning goals and to encourage curiosity.
You might also want students to share their questions with the class in case anyone has an “I never thought of that!” moment.
Teach The Lesson
Move on to the instructional part of the lesson, covering only the topic outlined in the KWL chart. Use activities that can help students actively engage with the material, such as hands-on activities, group projects, experiments, discussions, etc.
Complete The L Column – What Have I Learned?
Now, students can reflect on what they have learned. Let students complete the chart by writing down what they learned in the lesson. This will help reinforce the learning, and you can follow that up with a class discussion where students can share what they have learned. This can help them better understand the lesson in case of any misunderstandings and help reinforce what they have learned.
Other KWL Chart Teaching Tips
Here are some teaching tips for using KWL charts in the classroom:
- Use KWL charts regularly by integrating them into your teaching routine. This will help students get more familiar with the process, help develop critical thinking skills, and encourage reflection.
- Try KWL charts in different formats, like Google Docs, Google Slides, or other online tools.
- Encourage students to use KWL charts in individual and group work to teach students how to reflect individually and as a group.
- Adapt the KWL chart for different subjects. Include data from experiments in science class or key historical facts for history class in the L column.
- Incorporate KWL charts into your regular assessments. They are helpful in gauging students’ understanding of a topic and letting you see where they might need help or more review.
- Create activities for students to follow up on the lesson based on the W and L columns to help them explore the topic more deeply and apply what they have learned.
KWL Chart 2.0
This newly renovated KWL Chart moves beyond elementary school charts and is more suited toward middle school students. With a simplistic design and straight-to-the-point wording, students will look forward to filling out their KWL charts during each lesson.
Here are some new phrases you can use in your KWL chart:
- I Already Knew This
- New Learning
- Questions I Still Have
Or you could try these simplified phrases:
- I Knew
- I Learned
- I Question
By consistently integrating KWL charts into your teaching, you can create a more interactive and student-centred learning environment. You can download this renovated version of the KWL Chart for free here.
Learn more about KWL charts in this blog post by The Roberson Program.
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