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

Who: This strategy can be used in any age group. It can be used during small group or whole group instruction.

When: This concept is best used BEFORE reading to introduce a new topic.

Why: List-Group-Label helps students organize their understanding of specific vocabulary and concepts. It builds on students’ prior knowledge about a topic. List-Group-Label engages students in learning new vocabulary and content by activating critical thinking skills. Students learn categorizing and labeling skills.

How: Students brainstorm words they think may relate to the teacher’s chosen topic. The teacher will divide their class into small groups, which will work to sort the list into subcategories. As groups of words emerge, students should explain their reasoning for placing words together or discarding them. The teacher should invite students to suggest a tittle or label for the groups of words they have formed. These labels should relate to their reasoning for the grouping.