THANH HOA DEPARTMENT EDUCATION AND TRAINING TRIEU SON 5 HIGH SCHOOL EXPERIENCE INITIATIVE USING MIND MAPS TO TEACH READING COMPREHENSION AND APPLYING MIND MAPS TO ESSAY WRITING FOR TEN
Trang 1THANH HOA DEPARTMENT EDUCATION AND TRAINING
TRIEU SON 5 HIGH SCHOOL
EXPERIENCE INITIATIVE
USING MIND MAPS TO TEACH READING COMPREHENSION AND APPLYING MIND MAPS
TO ESSAY WRITING FOR TENTH GRADERS IN
TRIEU SON 5 HIGH SCHOOL
Teacher: Le Thi Phuong Position: Teacher
Subject: English
THANH HOA 2024
Trang 2TABLE OF CONTENTS
2.2 Current situation of teaching reading comprehension and essay
writing in classroom in Trieu Son 5 high school 3 2.3 Using mind maps to teach reading comprehension and then apply
them to essay writing in Trieu Son 5 high school 4
2.3.2 Benefits of using the mind map to teach reading comprehension 5
2.3.3 Steps to build mind maps from a reading comprehension and then
2.3.4 Examples of using mind maps in teaching reading comprehension 7
2.3.5 Effectiveness of applying mind mapping technique to teach
reading comprehension and then apply them to essay writing in Trieu
Son 5 high school
18
Trang 31 INTRODUCTION
1.1 Rationale
In the evolving landscape of education, the need for innovative teaching strategies that cater to diverse learning styles has become increasingly critical
At Trieu Son 5 High School, we recognize the importance of equipping our tenth graders with the skills necessary to excel in reading comprehension and essay writing As students prepare for the academic challenges of higher education and future careers, mastering these foundational skills is essential To address this need, we are introducing an experiential initiative that leverages the power of mind maps to enhance students’ understanding and application of reading materials, ultimately improving their essay writing abilities
Mind maps are a visual representation technique that organizes information
in a hierarchical and interconnected manner Developed by Tony Buzan, mind mapping capitalizes on the brain's natural ability to process visual and spatial information By presenting information graphically, mind maps make complex concepts more accessible and easier to understand This approach aligns perfectly with the cognitive development of tenth graders, who are transitioning from concrete to abstract thinking and benefit greatly from visual learning tools Reading comprehension and essay writing are not only crucial for academic success but also for personal and professional development Effective reading comprehension allows students to grasp the main ideas, analyze supporting details, and understand the relationships within a text This skill is indispensable for academic assessments and lifelong learning Similarly, essay writing teaches students to organize their thoughts, articulate their arguments, and communicate effectively These skills are foundational for higher education and many professional fields
However, traditional methods of teaching these skills often fall short in engaging students and catering to their diverse learning needs Many students struggle with organizing their thoughts and understanding complex texts, which can hinder their academic performance and confidence Mind maps offer a solution
by providing a structured yet flexible way to visually organize information, making learning more interactive and effective
Implementing Mind Maps in Trieu Son 5 High School: my initiative at Trieu Son 5 High School involves integrating mind maps into the curriculum for teaching reading comprehension and essay writing This process will be implemented in several stages, ensuring that students not only understand how
to create mind maps but also how to use them effectively in their studies
Stage 1: Introduction and Demonstration: The first stage involves introducing students to the concept of mind mapping Teachers will explain the benefits of mind maps and demonstrate how to create them using simple, familiar topics This initial exposure will help students understand the basic principles and visualize how mind maps can organize information
Stage 2: Guided Practice: In the second stage, students will engage in guided practice, creating mind maps with the teacher’s assistance This collaborative
Trang 4approach will help students become comfortable with the process and see different ways to structure their maps
Stage 3: Independent Application: Once students are familiar with mind mapping, they will begin to use this technique independently They will create mind maps for reading assignments, identifying main ideas, supporting details, and key concepts This practice will reinforce their comprehension skills and prepare them for the next step—using mind maps for essay writing
Stage 4: Transition to Essay Writing: In the final stage, students will apply their mind maps to essay writing They will use their maps to brainstorm ideas, organize their arguments, and structure their essays This visual representation will help them maintain coherence and logical flow in their writing, resulting in clearer and more effective essays
The experience initiative “Using Mind Maps to Teach Reading Comprehension
and Applying Mind Maps to Essay Writing for Tenth Graders in Trieu Son 5 High School” aims to transform the way tenth graders approach reading
comprehension and essay writing By providing a visual and interactive learning tool, we hope to enhance students’ understanding, retention, and critical thinking skills This innovative approach will not only improve their academic performance but also prepare them for the complexities of higher education and beyond As we implement this initiative, we are confident that mind maps will become an integral part of our teaching strategy, fostering a more engaging and effective learning environment for our students
1.2 Aims of the study
The aims of the study can be summarized as follows:
- Enhancing Reading Comprehension: The primary aim of the initiative is
to improve students' reading comprehension skills by introducing them to the use of mind maps as a visual tool for organizing and understanding textual information
- Facilitating Essay Writing Skills: The initiative seeks to extend the benefits
of improved reading comprehension to essay writing by teaching students how to translate their understanding of texts into coherent and well-structured essays
- Promoting Active Learning
- Supporting Differentiated Instruction
- Fostering Critical Thinking
- Developing Organizational Skills.
1.3 Scope of the study
Given the rationale and the aims of the study, it is necessary to limit the study to the areas which are manageable The topic revolves around the study of the use of mind maps to for 10th grade students at Trieu Son 5 high school, which focus on two factors: reinforcing the knowledge and developing students language understanding
1.4 Methods of the study
To complete this study, the following steps implemented:
- Pre-Implementation Assessment
- Integration into Curriculum
Trang 5- Implementation of Mind Mapping Activities
- Monitoring and Support
- Assessment and Evaluation
- Data Analysis
2 DEVELOPMENT
2.1 Scientific background
In modern educational settings, the integration of innovative learning tools
is essential for enhancing student engagement and comprehension At Trieu Son
5 High School, the experiential initiative of using mind maps to teach reading comprehension and apply them to essay writing for tenth graders is grounded in substantial scientific research from cognitive psychology, neuroscience, and educational theory
Cognitive Psychology and Dual Coding Theory: Cognitive psychology provides
a foundation for understanding how students learn and process information Allan Paivio’s dual coding theory, a cornerstone of cognitive psychology, posits that humans process information through two distinct channels: verbal and visual Mind maps effectively leverage this theory by combining textual information creates stronger memory traces, enhancing comprehension and retention
Neuroscience and Brain Function: Neuroscientific research supports the use of visual learning tools The brain's neocortex, responsible for higher-order cognitive functions, is particularly adept at processing visual information Studies indicate that visual aids can significantly improve information retention and recall For instance, research by Wong et al (2018) found that incorporating visual elements can enhance retention by up to 42% Mind maps capitalize on this by organizing information visually, making it easier for students to encode and retrieve knowledge
Cognitive Load Theory: John Sweller’s cognitive load theory emphasizes the limitations of working memory and the importance of managing cognitive load to enhance learning Reading comprehension involves decoding text, understanding vocabulary, and integrating new information, which can be overwhelming Mind maps help mitigate this by breaking down complex information into smaller, more manageable segments, reducing cognitive overload This allows students to process and integrate information more efficiently, improving comprehension
The scientific basis for using mind maps in teaching reading comprehension and essay writing is robust, integrating insights from cognitive psychology, neuroscience, and educational theory By harnessing the brain’s natural tendencies for visual learning and active engagement, mind maps provide a powerful tool for enhancing educational outcomes The implementation of this experiential initiative at Trieu Son 5 High School aims to capitalize on these scientific principles, offering a dynamic and effective approach to improving students’ reading and writing skills
Trang 62.2 Current situation of teaching reading comprehension and essay writing in classroom in Trieu Son 5 high school
In Trieu Son 5 High School, a rural educational institution nestled in the heart of Vietnam, the traditional method of teaching reading comprehension to students follows a structured approach that emphasizes fundamental skills and systematic instruction
While traditional reading methods have their strengths, they also come with limitations, especially in the context of Trieu Son 5 High School in rural Vietnam These limitations may impact students' reading comprehension and overall learning outcomes in several ways:
Rote Learning vs Critical Thinking: Traditional reading methods often prioritize rote learning and memorization over critical thinking and analysis Students may be taught to memorize vocabulary lists and answer comprehension questions without deeply engaging with the text or developing higher-order thinking skills This approach limits students' ability to critically evaluate and interpret texts, hindering their overall comprehension skills
Limited Student Engagement: Traditional reading methods may lack opportunities for active student engagement and participation In a traditional classroom setting, students may passively receive instruction through lectures, drills, and worksheets, without opportunities for meaningful discussion, collaboration, or hands-on activities This passive learning environment can lead
to disengagement and boredom among students, diminishing their motivation to read and comprehend texts effectively
Limited Application to Real-World Contexts: Traditional reading methods may focus solely on academic texts and literary classics, overlooking the importance of connecting reading comprehension skills to real-world contexts and experiences Students may struggle to see the relevance of their reading skills outside the classroom, limiting their motivation to apply these skills in real-life situations such as interpreting informational texts, understanding news articles, or navigating everyday tasks that require reading comprehension
In conclusion, while traditional reading methods have their merits, they also have limitations that can hinder students' reading comprehension and overall learning outcomes Addressing these limitations requires a thoughtful approach that balances traditional instructional practices with innovative strategies that cater to the diverse needs and interests of students in Trieu Son 5 High School
2.3 Using mind maps to teach reading comprehension and then apply them to essay writing in Trieu Son 5 high school
2.3.1 Concept of mind maps
Mind mapping is a visual representation technique that organizes information hierarchically and shows relationships among pieces of the whole Introduced by Tony Buzan in the 1970s, mind maps mimic the brain’s natural way of processing information They start with a central idea and branch out into related subtopics, using keywords, images, and colors to create a structured yet flexible representation
of information
Trang 72.3.2 Benefits of using the mind map to teach reading comprehension
Using mind maps to teach reading comprehension offers a range of benefits that can significantly enhance students' understanding and retention of the material Here are some key advantages:
- Visual Organization:
+ Structure and Clarity: Mind maps provide a clear, visual representation of the main ideas and supporting details in a text This helps students see the relationships between different pieces of information and how they fit into the overall structure
+ Engagement: The visual nature of mind maps can make reading comprehension activities more engaging and enjoyable for students, particularly for those who are visual learners
- Improved Memory and Recall:
+ Enhanced Retention: By organizing information visually and spatially, mind maps can improve memory retention The use of colors, images, and symbols helps
to reinforce learning and makes it easier to recall information later
+ Active Participation: Creating a mind map requires active engagement with the text, which promotes deeper processing and better recall
- Comprehension and Critical Thinking:
+ Understanding Relationships: Mind maps help students identify and understand the relationships between different concepts, such as cause and effect, problem and solution, or comparison and contrast
+ Higher-Order Thinking: The process of creating a mind map encourages students to analyze, synthesize, and evaluate information, which are higher-order thinking skills essential for deep comprehension
- Organization and Summarization:
+ Condensing Information: Mind maps allow students to condense large amounts of information into a concise, easy-to-understand format This helps them focus on the most important points and avoid getting bogged down in details
+ Summarization Skills: Creating a mind map helps students practice summarizing information, which is a key skill for reading comprehension
- Individual and Collaborative Learning:
+ Personalized Learning: Mind maps can be tailored to suit individual learning styles and needs, allowing each student to organize information in a way that makes the most sense to them
+ Collaboration: Mind maps can also be used as a collaborative tool, where students work together to create a comprehensive map of the text This encourages discussion, idea sharing, and collaborative problem-solving
- Assessment and Feedback:
+ Formative Assessment: Teachers can use mind maps as a form of formative assessment to gauge students’ understanding of the text and identify areas where they may need further instruction
+ Immediate Feedback: Mind maps provide a clear visual representation of what students understand and where they may have misconceptions, allowing teachers to provide immediate and targeted feedback
Trang 8- Creativity and Motivation:
+ Creative Expression: Mind mapping allows for creative expression through the use of colors, drawings, and different layouts This can make learning more enjoyable and motivate students to engage more deeply with the reading material
+ Intrinsic Motivation: The process of creating a mind map can be intrinsically rewarding, fostering a positive attitude toward reading and learning Incorporating mind maps into reading comprehension instruction can thus offer a multi-faceted approach that supports students in developing a deeper understanding of texts, enhancing their critical thinking skills, and making learning a more engaging and interactive process
2.3.3 Steps to build mind maps from a reading comprehension and then apply them to essay writing
Building mind maps from reading comprehension and applying them to essay writing involves several steps that help students organize their thoughts, understand the text better, and structure their essays effectively Here are the steps to build mind maps from reading comprehension and apply them to essay writing:
- Select a Text: Choose a passage or text relevant to the essay topic or learning objectives The text should be engaging and appropriate for the students' reading level
- Identify Main Ideas: Read the text carefully and identify the main ideas, themes, and key concepts These main ideas will serve as the central branches of the mind map
- Create Central Branches: Write down the main ideas as central branches
on the mind map Each main idea should be concise and represent a significant aspect of the text
- Add Supporting Details: Under each main idea, add supporting details, examples, evidence, or quotes from the text that reinforce and elaborate on the main idea These details will serve as sub-branches of the mind map
- Make Connections: Identify connections between the main ideas and supporting details Use arrows or lines to show how different elements of the text relate to each other and contribute to the overall understanding of the topic
- Visualize Relationships: Use symbols, colors, and images to visualize relationships between ideas and enhance the visual appeal of the mind map Visual elements help students understand complex concepts and remember information more effectively
- Review and Revise: Review the mind map to ensure that it accurately represents the key elements of the text and effectively organizes the information Make revisions as needed to clarify connections and improve the overall structure
- Plan Essay Structure: Use the mind map as a guide to plan the structure of the essay Determine the main points or arguments to be covered in each paragraph, based
on the main ideas and supporting details identified in the mind map
Trang 9- Write the Essay: Begin writing the essay, using the mind map as a reference to organize thoughts and structure the content Start with an introduction that provides context and outlines the main points to be covered Then, develop each main point in separate paragraphs, using evidence from the mind map to support arguments
- Revise and Edit: After completing the essay, revise and edit the content to ensure clarity, coherence, and accuracy Refer back to the mind map to check for consistency and relevance of ideas Make revisions as needed to strengthen the argument and improve the overall quality of the essay
- By following these steps, students can effectively build mind maps from reading comprehension and use them to guide their essay writing process Mind maps serve as valuable tools for organizing thoughts, understanding complex concepts, and structuring essays in a logical and coherent manner
2.3.4 Examples of using mind maps in teaching reading comprehension and then apply them to essay writing in Trieu Son 5 high school
Here are some lessons of reading section in 10 grade English Textbook which I used mind maps to teach and then applied these mind maps to write an essay about a topic related to reading text
UNIT 6: GENDER EQUALITY III READING (Page 69 in 10 grade English Textbook)
For an equal world Passage:
Mind map:
Student’s mind map:
Student’s writing:
UNIT 7: VIETNAM AND INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
III READING (Page 79 in 10 grade English Textbook)
Passage:
Student’s mind map:
Student’s writing:
Topic for unit 7:
write an essay (about 200 words) about THE BENEFITS FOR VIETNAM
AS A MEMBER OF INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATIONS, take Unicef as
an example
Essay:
Trang 10UNIT 8: NEW WAYS TO LEARN III READING (Page in 89 grade English Textbook) Passage:
Student’s mind map:
Student’s writing:
Topic for unit 8:
Online education is becoming more and more popular Some people claim that e-learning has so many benefits that it will replace face-to-face education soon Others say that traditional education is irreplaceable Discuss both views and give your opinion ( traditional methods of teaching versus the modern ones)
Essay:
UNIT 9: PROTECTING THE ENVIRONMENT III READING (Page 103 in 10 grade English Textbook)
Passage:
Student’s mind map:
Student’s writing:
Topic for unit 9:
Explain some of the ways in which humans are damaging the environment What can governments do to address these problems? What can individual people do?
Essay:
UNIT 1: FAMILY LIFE III READING (Page 11 in 10 grade English Textbook)