ALL ABOUT READING

Developed by Hilda Taba

What: List-Group-Label is an educational strategy that helps students improve their vocabulary and learn to categorize concepts and ideas. They learn to group, organize, and label.

Who: all grade levels and content areas; whole/small group, individual

When: This concept is best used before reading, as an introduction to a new topic but can also be used during or after reading.

Why: This helps students organize their understanding of specific vocabulary and concepts, build prior knowledge, learn new vocabulary and content by activating critical thinking skills, and develop categorizing and labeling skills.

How:

- LIST: students brainstorm all words they think relate to a teacher chosen topic

- GROUP: divide class into small groups, which will work to sort the list into subcategories. As groups of words emerge, challenge your students to explain their reasoning for placing words together or discarding them.

- LABEL: invite students to suggest a title or label for the group of words they have formed. These labels should relate to their reasoning for the grouping.

Note: While students are brainstorming, visually display their responses. During brainstorming, don't critique student responses. Some words may not reflect the main concepts but hopefully students will realize this as they begin grouping the words in the next step.