The K-W-L procedure (Ogle, 1986) "what I Know, what I Want to learn, and what I Learned" has been successful in helping me guide students to become independent learners. It enables them to identify not only what they already know, but what they want to know. I have modified the K-W-L strategy to help students realize that learning is continuous. Students need to take responsibility for their learning and actively pursue their own quest for knowledge (Ogle, 1986).
In my first-grade class, I often conclude the study of a topic with a "What we've learned" chart completed as a group. Students enjoy working together, and it is relatively easy to develop a brainstormed chart. I extended the L of K-W-L by adapting paragraph frames (Cudd & Roberts, 1989) to correspond with a particular topic and use them as another way to reach the L goal (see Figures 1 and 2). I provide a scaffold for students' thinking and writing by giving them sentence starters to help them with the task of writing about what they have learned. This modification provides both a way to assess the learning that has taken place on the topic and an opportunity for nonfiction writing.
Procedures for using paragraph frames to complete a K-W-L
After completing a unit, or when wanting to summarize a topic, I begin the "what we've Learned" by asking students to share verbally their ideas with the group. Next, I write an introductory sentence on a chart, and this allows the reader to know what the coming text will be about. Then I begin four or five sentences that need to be completed using the newly acquired information. We complete the sentences together. Many ideas are volunteered, and the class decides on the one that makes the most sense. Sometimes we combine more than one idea. I have found that complete modeling of this type of writing is necessary only two or three times.
This interactive writing provides the means to address several issues, including the use of transition words, spelling, syntax, and editing. Some students can contribute more than just the paragraph frame, while needier students feel successful when only completing the frame. In addition, the students not only are given possibilities for content area writing, but also are exposed to text structures found in expository writing that will help them in comprehension when reading independently (Cudd & Roberts, 1989).
As a final step, students include a detailed illustration with their completed paragraph frame. I have found that as students are encouraged to add details to their drawings, they are better able to understand the importance of including details to communicate ideas in writing (Cudd & Roberts, 1989).
The use of this technique has proven very effective with my students. I saw an almost immediate improvement in their nonfiction writing and a significant transfer of learning as the frames and language were used in other writing. In addition, it has also provided me with a meaningful way to assess their learning of a subject.