Post--reading. The teacher engages the class as a group in reflection after reading sections or the entire lesson depending on length and difficulty of the readings. First, the teacher directs students to provide answers to questions in their "What I Want to Know" columns. These answers are written in the "What We Learned" column on the class chart across from the original question by the teacher. Second, students provide other new information they gleaned from the text; this information again is written on class chart under the "What We Learned" column (Figure 1). After this group-led activity, students write information on their own charts. This information will include a few ideas that they learned.
The teacher encourages students to turn to other sources to find answers to the remaining questions, such as "How much saturated fat is okay in my diet?" These questions can become challenge activities, such as each pair of students/small group being responsible for finding the answer to one question by the end of the week. The teacher should ensure that key points from the section read are included in the "What We Learned" column on the class chart. The teacher may need to add some points, such as "One thing I learned was..." or "Did anyone learn anything about...?" The teacher continues to add to the "What We Learned" column or make corrections in the "What We Know" column as needed throughout the unit. In addition, students should be encouraged to add new questions to their individual charts and to continue seeking answers to these questions throughout the unit.
Study Guide and Assessment. A helpful study guide for students to use when preparing for tests may include a copy of the completed class chart and their individual charts. The teacher should ensure that information covered in the text, or other sources such as films/discussions/class presentations, appears on the KW-L chart in some form. In addition, the completed chart can be used as an informal assessment tool to monitor student involvement in discussions and student understanding of material.3 McAllister advocates developing group and individual recording sheets to note the number of times students participate in each stage of the K-W-L process. During the group discussion period, students' initials are placed after their contributions on the group chart and later the information is transferred to a group record form. Responses from students' individual K-W-L charts also are tallied on an individual record form, providing valuable information at a glance of student involvement with the process.
Summary. The K-W-L strategy provides students with structure to guide them when reading textbooks or other resource materials, and enables them to take responsibility for their own learning. The process incorporates the teacher's guidance with student input allowing both to feel ownership in the learning process. K-WL lends itself well to a health curriculum that promotes student decision-making, problem-solving, and active participation.
Grade Level and Subject Area
Grades 5-8 (middle school populations)/health education
Resources and Materials
Health education text/resource materials