Coach: Carol Ann Moynihan, Smyser Elementary School
Adaptable for grade levels: K-8
Key Subject Area(s): Interdisciplinary
Also incorporates: Art, Music, Drama; Language Arts; Math; Science; Social Studies; Special Education; Technology; Parental Involvement

Study Group Teaching Method Description:

Use graphic organizers to create a classroom that is exciting, purposeful, successful, and brings your students beyond the traditional notion of the Venn diagram. This Study Group will help you find a graphic organizer to support almost every aspect of your teaching, including creating an effective learning environment, involving parents in curricular activities, and supporting behavior management.

Graphic organizers are simply a visual way to organize information so that someone looking at it can see connections and/or draw conclusions about a particular topic. They allow students to construct knowledge in a meaningful manner, instead of just memorizing facts. With graphic organizers, students can see how information falls into connected patterns, as they illustrate that combining seemingly independent details can often lead to a meaningful whole. The goal of this Study Group is to share ways in which information organizers can be used not only across the curriculum, but also for creating a dynamic classroom that students can’t wait to enter!

Illinois State Standards and Benchmarks:

Carol Ann Moynihan teaches first grade at Smyser Elementary School, where she has served as the first grade team leader for twenty years. Carol’s leadership experiences include presenting her creative curricular ideas at CFE’s fall workshop and leading a 2008 CFE Study Group. Last year’s Study Group was a tremendous success, and Carol is excited to once again share her innovative approaches to teaching.

Meeting Times:

The Study Group meeting schedules are determined together at the Study Group Program Kick-Off Dinner on Thursday, June 4, 2009.