Strategy: KWL (Know, Want, Learn)

Explanation/Purpose:

This strategy has many benefits including giving the reader focus or purpose for reading a text. They will then reflect on the understanding of the text after reading.It is also used to active students’ prior knowledge of a subject.As a group activity, it brings shared understanding to a text or topic.

What would it look like in the classroom?

Before discussing a new topic or reading a text, write the new topic on the board (´Fish´ for example), have students brainstorm everything that they already know about fish. Then, have the students generate questions that they want to explore about the topic. After studying a topic or sharing a text, have the students reflect upon what new knowledge they gained about the topic or text.

You could use this idea when sharing any new genre: movies, plays, newspaper articles, songs, trade books, factual novel.

When?: Before, during & after

Weblink for further reading and examples :

http://iteslj.org/Techniques/Tan-Cooperative.html