CLUSTERING Writing To Learn In All Content Areas

What is Clustering? Clustering is a way to organize information and make associations or connections between those ideas. The Chicken Convention

Clustering Not a new technique

Procedure The Basics: The writer jots a key word or phrase in the center of a page… Characteristics of living things

The Basics Continued: The writer then draws spokes outward and in associative fashion writes words/phrases connected with the key word/phrase. Characteristics of living things Growth & Development ReproductionOrganization Maintains Homeostasis

The Basics Continued: And so on… Characteristics of living things Growth & Development ReproductionOrganization Maintains Homeostasis Organ Chemical level Tissue Cellular level

Your Turn Think of all the characteristics of the central word “assessments.” Now, turn to a neighbor and share what you’ve written. Add any new ideas to your own cluster. Class discussion/practice

Why use Clustering? 1. It is a tool to help students get thinking started.

Why use Clustering? 2. It is a tool students can use to get beyond the most obvious ideas that first occur to them.

Why use Clustering? 3. It is a tool that encourages participation.

Why use Clustering? 4. It is a valuable tool for pre-assessment or reviewing material before a test.

Why use Clustering? 5. It is a tool to help students remember terms and concepts.

Why use Clustering? 6. It is a tool to help students make inter-disciplinary and real life connections.

Why use Clustering? 7. It is a tool to help students better understand the material presented.

Variations Instead of showing relationships, the cluster satellites can be used for definitions of terms. Characteristics of living things Maintains “Homeostasis” The maintenance of a constant internal environment

Variations The connecting spokes can also be used to add information and/or show the type of relationship between the central word and its satellite(s). Characteristics of living things Organization (6 levels of)

Variations You could also use a variety of symbols to connect the satellites to show different kind of relationships, such as definitions, antonyms, examples, etc. Characteristics of living things

Variations Use Clustering as a small group or whole class activity. This variation works particularly well with new or difficult concepts.

Another way of having students Cluster is to have the teacher provide a list of words and/or phrases of the ideas and/or concepts. This is called a “word splash.”

Variations The central idea and its satellites can also be arranged in a linear fashion denoting a hierarchy. Central Idea Satellite Secondary Satellite Satellite Secondary Satellite

Challenges and Tips to Clustering Model it Associative thinking Doing it for the right reason Not an essay Other ideas? (possibly content specific)

Direct Application Using your own teaching materials, brainstorm and jot down possible ideas on a lesson where you could use clustering in your content area. Come up with specific key words/phrases, possible satellites, what concepts you would like your students to touch on, which (if any) variations you’d like to use, etc. Be prepared to share your ideas with a neighbor.