Topic for week of March 26, 2012:

Use of Tree Map – Tree Maps help classify and sort details about a topic.  How have you used a Tree Map to help students detail and categories specific details of a topic?  Remember to incorporate the Frame of Reference to help students understand where they learned the information they are detailing.  

Going a bit further – Give students a list of words or a group of objects and have them classify the same information in two or three different ways.  Students should then explain why they have classified the information to the way they have and make a judgement about which way they think is best.

Please post your blog response to this topic by Friday, March 30, 2012.

double bubble maps

Use of Double Bubble Map – Going off of what was done for the Bubble Maps last week, how have you used a double bubble map to compare and contrast two ideas.  Instead of only using adjectives, students can now use any word or phrase.  Don't forget to detail the Frame of Reference that your students used to compare and contrast the same or different ideas.

Going a bit further – Fine two topics that are very similar and somewhat confusing.  Utilize the double bubble to distinguish the difference and similarities between the two topics.

Please post your blog response to this topic by Friday, March 23, 2012.

This week's thinking map is the bubble map.  What topic did you place in the middle circle and what words or phrases did your students use to describe that topic?  Was their frame of reference accurate or did you have to guide their frame of reference?  Did your students have a higher or lower knowledge of the topic than you expected?

Going a bit further – After the students have provided many adjectives to describe your topic, have the class come to a consensus of the two best adjectives.  

Please blog how you have utilized Circle Maps this week in class.  In what instances were you able to use them for brainstorming or detail work?  What did you put in the middle of the map (the topic) and how did students respond to the topic?  Did your students utilize their Frame of Reference to explain the "How do you know what you know" prompt?

Going a bit further - Another idea of using the Circle Map is to put a question mark in the topic circle (inner circle) with details in the larger circle and allow students to guess what the topic of the day is going to be.  Then working your way through the details to teach the lesson, showing how each of the details relates to the topic.

Circle Maps

Explain how you used circle maps in your class.