"WHAT I KNOW" CHART

This is a versatile strategy which may be used to help students tap into their prior knowledge of a topic or of a concept. This chart enables students to think and to write about what they already know, what they have learned (from the day's lesson or from an assigned reading), and what they need to know in order to facilitate a complete understanding of the lesson or reading.

How to Use the "What I Know" Chart

• Distribute the chart. At the top, write a key question.
• Have students brainstorm all they know about the topic. They write the information in Column I
• Pair students. Tell them to share all they know. Add new information to column 1. As students are doing this, the teacher should circulate and ask generic questions which encourage students to be more specific point them in another direction
• Tell them to place a dot (o) in front of everything about which they are sure.
• Next, tell them to generate a question for every item about which they are not sure. Categorize questions. This may be done in groups, pairs, or individually.
• Write ALL the questions that have been generated on the blackboard.
• Direct the students to begin reading about the topic or to begin listening for answers to the questions as the lesson develops.
• As students read or listen, they should answer as many of their questions as they can. These answers are placed under "What I Now Know. "
• Discuss answers and identify what puzzles students or what they are curious about. Identify what original questions remain unanswered. Write these questions under "What I Need/Want to Know. Answers to these questions can be researched.
• Then, and this is very important, ask, "What did you learn that you did not have questions for?" This information can be added under "What I Now Know.
• Finally, provide the students with time to answer the key question.