Thinking Maps to Build Background...

This is a great example of how students with limited English proficiency can fill out a Thinking Map.

Building background for ELL students is an important step for their success in an up coming lesson. By allowing the students a chance to tap into the information and vocabulary that they already know about a topic you can help them to feel more confident as they approach the tasks associated with that topic. There are many ways to help students access what they already know about a topic and Thinking Maps are a great way to do this.

Students can organize and fill in thinking maps no matter what their english proficiency level, it's just a matter of providing them with the right support. Above is an example of how a student with limited English can complete a circle map about living things. Although this students may not have the full grasp of the required vocabulary (in English) they can stay with what the class is doing and feel successful by using pictures instead. In this case the student is able to sort through what they already know about aquatic animals which will prepare them for upcoming lessons.

Here are a few examples for the continuation to the circle map above.

Thinking Maps are very basic in their structure but provide a wide range of opportunities to support students at various academic levels while having the  entire class all completing the same process for organizing their information. The ways that these can be utilized in the classroom is unlimited.