Rutgers Gifted Education Certificate Program gifteded.rutgers.edu Tiered Graphic Organizers
Graphic organizers are used frequently in schools as tools to help students organize
information. They can be used across disciplines and at all grade levels. Modifying graphic
organizers that you are already using in your classroom to raise the level of academic demand
for advanced learners is a low preparation strategy that can enhance learning for all students.
By modifying and tiering a graphic organizer, rather than giving your students completely
different organizers, you are allowing all of your students to engage with the same thinking skills
and concepts. You are differentiating the process by which students engage with the content
and at times, you are elevating the content for your advanced learners.
By adapting your existing graphic organizers to make them suitable for varied readiness levels,
you can address the pacing issues that often frustrate students and teachers. The increased
level of demand will keep your gifted learners focused on the work at hand, and support your
struggling learners. If advanced students engage with extension materials, the whole class
could benefit if groups were asked to share the work when the task is completed.
Examples in a differentiated classroom:
Most teachers have used a Venn diagram to teach students how to compare and contrast.
Adding a third circle (or more) to the Venn diagram can add a complex layer to an analysis of
factors. In this example, the lesson is focused on the economic concept of supply and demand.
The class might compare the differing perspectives of supply and demand held by different
stakeholders. By adding the third circle, politicians, the teacher is requiring an advanced
understanding of the political influences on commerce through the eyes of a policymaker. Created by Lenore Cortina Ed.D.
©2013 Rutgers University Gifted Education Certificate Program
The following is an example of a Cause and Effect graphic organizer, often used in history or
social studies lessons. This organizer could easily be applied to science, literature, or math.
In the example below, the graphic organizer is used with a unit on the Revolutionary War. To
raise the level of demand for advanced students, teachers might add (it can be as simple as a
ruler and pencil addition) one or more columns to the basic cause and effect chart. By asking
advanced students to consider influences on the causes, they are required to dig deeper into
the understanding that there is complexity to causes. By extending the effects to include longterm consequences, students are forced to think critically. These types of modifications to
graphic organizers are a simple way to extend learning for advanced students.
Tiered graphic organizers extend the underlying concepts of a unit beyond factual knowledge
and require students to engage critically with the material.
Timelines: Timelines are graphic organizers that help students to develop chronological
thinking. Students could be asked to add additional information (bios, inventions, etc.) to the
timeline that is assigned to the whole class. However, to extend critical thinking, teachers may
ask students to create parallel timelines. In this way, students are comparing series of events
across time, a much higher level thinking experience.
Industrial Revolution Timeline
Created by Lenore Cortina Ed.D.
Technological Revolution Timeline
©2013 Rutgers University Gifted Education Certificate Program