Concept maps are a great classroom strategy to use when your EAL learners are learning new concepts. As you can see from the image, learners complete a map that shows the relationship between a concept by:
- Giving a definition of the word or concept
- Writing synonyms of the word or concept
- Writing examples of the word or concept
They help a learner organise their understanding of the concept and deepen their understanding.
They do take time to complete but they are well worth investing time in.
Concept maps could be done at the end of learning about a concept to reinforce the knowledge that learners have gained. They also act as a guide for you to show to what extent they have learnt about the new concept.
EAL in the Daylight 