Comprehension Strategies
Story MapsDescription: A Story Map is a comprehension strategy that manipulates graphic organizers to help aid students in learning and summarize the elements of a story including the main idea, characters, setting, and plot or beginning, middle, and end. The visual of the graphic organizer helps students bring the elements of the story together a structured manner.
Purpose: The purpose of the Story Maps strategy is to improve student comprehension by working with the story structure and components. Procedure: 1. Discuss the main elements of the story. 2. The teacher provides each student with a blank story map graphic organizer and then model the steps needed in order to successfully complete it. 3. Have student complete the story map as they read the selected material. 4. After reading, the students should fill in the aspects of the story map that they have missing and turn it in to the teacher or use it to take part in the class discussion. Classroom Integration: • They can be used with author studies • They can be used to help solve math world problems • They can be used to map out the story elements of a story (Theme, character, plot, setting) Variation: Provide prompts for each section of the story map to assist the student in filling it out. Have a variety of level of story maps ranging from the simplest form to more complex ones and provide them to meet the academic level of each specific student. Have student work in pairs to complete the graphic organizer or even work together as a whole class. ("Story Maps," 2001) ("Story Maps," 2007) Story Map ResourcesStory Maps
• This site provides a detailed description of the strategy, the procedure of how to integrate it into the classroom, differentiated instructional ideas, examples of the strategy being practiced, and templates of graphic organizer that could be used ("Story Maps," 2001). Classroom Strategies: Story Maps • This source offers the reasoning behind the strategy of Story Maps, the benefits is produces for both teachers and students, and the steps in how it can be implemented into a classroom setting ("Story Maps," 2007). How Writing Ties into the StrategyStandard: CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.7.2.a
• Introduce a topic clearly, previewing what is to follow; organize ideas, concepts, and information, using strategies such as definition, classification, comparison/contrast, and cause/effect; include formatting (e.g., headings), graphics (e.g., charts, tables), and multimedia when useful to aiding comprehension. How Writing is Tied into the Strategy: The Story Maps strategy is a process where students summarize the components of a story. This strategy ties in writing as it manipulates the use of graphic organizers. Students use the graphic organizers to plan, summarize, and write down details of the assigned reading including the main idea, characters, setting, and plot of the story. The graphic organizers are used to help students organize their ideas in an ideal manner that helps assist them in comprehending the text. (Common Core State Standards, 2010, p. 42) |
Videos of Story Maps (Shipman, 2012)
Video: This video provides directions for second graders to create a story map. They are guided through the step-by-step process and encouraged to create their own map of the story elements by using a familiar book of their choice to identify the book’s characters, setting, problem and solution. Instruction: This video provides a demonstration for teachers to understand how this strategy works. It could be used to introduce young students to story mapping or shared as directions for students. Student Engagement: This video provides a working example of story maps that can be immediately implemented in the classroom. Assessment: The teacher could assess student knowledge and understanding after presenting the video by asking the students what the benefits this strategy could have in the classroom. (LoveYourPencil, 2011)
Video: This video provides a sample of a story map lesson plan that teachers can use with a short story, book, or movie being used in the classroom. There is a step-by-step example of the process as well as an available graphic organizer, event worksheet and printable of completed example that can be downloaded for free. Instruction: This video thoroughly explains the Story Mapping process and can be immediately implanted as a lesson in the classroom. It can be used during reading arts instruction. Student Engagement: This video provides an working example that can easily be modified for use in the classroom. The example will help students understand expectations and provide a working example to guide their work. Assessment: The teacher could assess student knowledge and understanding after presenting the video by asking the students what the benefits this strategy could have in the classroom. |