BIG FOX Graphic Organizer

The Big Fox Graphic Organizer is a pre-reading tool for reading non-fiction. Students go through the chapter or article and find the bold words, the italicized words, the graphics, facts, opinions, and the main point of the article or chapter.

Here are some different suggestions of using the BIG FOX pre-reading graphic organizer

The first time using the Big Fox Graphic Organizer you will need to model how to complete the different sections.

Distribute a copy of the Big Fox graphic organizer to each student. Ask students to complete the graphic organizer individually as they read an article or a chapter.
Once students have completed the chart on the graphic organizer, have them highlight while they read the article. Ask students to highlight any unknown words or phrases.
Place students in groups of three to four mixed-ability students. Have students share their list of highlighted words with each other. If any student in the group does not have a word highlighted that the others do, that student provides the definition for the others to write down in the margin of their papers.

Using a large-group discussion format, ask each group which words all group members have highlighted. Write these words on the board. If no other group is able to provide a definition, the teacher provides the definition and writes it on the board. Students copy the definition on their papers.
Once all unknown words have been defined, students silently re-read the article and write a one-paragraph summary in order to demonstrate comprehension.

Explain to students that reading is like exercising. It is very hard on your body to begin a difficult work-out without first warming-up your muscles. Likewise, reading is more difficult if you don’t warm-up your brain with pre-reading. Use the Big Fox technique to warm-up your brain.