When given 12 to 15 words and 4 to 5 categories, learners predict which words best fit in each category. They read the content and fix their predictions in small groups to discuss their ideas. Learners use the categories to write summaries about the content.

Learning Outcomes

• Introduce word meanings
• Review word meanings

Implementation

1. Select challenging words or concepts from the content.
2. Write student-friendly definitions for every concept or word.
3. Provide the Predict-O-Gramgraphic organizer for learners (Click here to access all of our graphic organizer forms).
4. Determine student pairs.
5. Introduce content to learners by providing background information on the author and the topic.
6. Based on the background and title, ask learners to make predictions.
7. After learners have shared their responses, provide them with the list of definitions and concepts from the reading and the graphic organizer.
8. If this is your first time using this technique, model, and think-aloud the initial prediction. Ask, “From what I know about the author’s life, I predict they may utilize this concept or word in the content to show….”
9. Ask learners to predict how the author may use the word or explore a concept before they read.
10. Provide learners with time to read and annotate the content. Tell them to star the word or concept during reading.
11. After writing how the author utilized the word in their graphic organizers, ask learners to discuss with their partner:
    • “How did the author use this word in their composition?”
    • “Explain how the author’s usage compares with what you initially wrote?”
12. You may want to model for learners how you find the word and examine how the author used the word in the content, and provide learners sentence starters for this part of the work. Learners must be asked to find the sentence or passage with the word or concept and compare it to their prediction.
13. Ask learners to verify or change their original predictive statements based on what they read. Learners must cite evidence from the content to support their answers.
14. Reflection: Did making predictions about the target words or concepts help you better comprehend the content?
15. Learners utilize the categories and words to summarize the content (orally or in writing, in pairs, groups, as a class, or individually).