K-W-L

(What I Know, What I Want to Know, What I Learned)

Description
The K-W-L strategy provides an organizational tool for students to generate (1) what they already know about a topic, (2) what they want to learn, and (3) what they learned about the topic. This procedure can be completed individually or in small groups.

Purpose
To help teachers become more responsive in assisting students to access appropriate knowledge in reading expository material.

Procedure Step K - What I Know
This step asks students to brainstorm or react to a topic given by the teacher before reading the text. They will record this information under the K on their chart.

Step W - What I Want to Know
The teacher’s goal in this step is to generate interest and “predictive” power as students begin to form questions and make predictions concerning the upcoming reading material. Students will record their questions under the W on their chart.

Step L - What I Learned
After students have completed their reading assignment, they will record what they have learned in the L column of the chart. At this time, they can also recheck their original predictions from step W.

Student Expectations

  • Are students able to use background knowledge which will be helpful to them in their reading?
  • Are students able to generate questions concerning the reading topic?
  • Are students able to assess whether they have learned what they wanted to learn from their reading?

A similar method to help students gather and learn new information is KWHL.

  • What Do I Know?
  • What Do I Want to Know?
  • How Will I Go About Learning?
  • What Have I Learned?

Download K-W-L Chart (pdf)


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