QUESTION: Vocabulary. Learning & Acquisition

[Lori Falchi]

Hi folks,

I am wondering what are some of the ways that you all engage in the teaching and learning of vocabulary? Also, beyond explicit teaching strategies, what are some fun ways you raise word consciousness through game playing or multimodal kinds of activities?

I am interested in reaching elementary kids, especially emergent bilinguals.

Thanks,
Lori

[Phyllis Ain]

I am a reading specialist for upper elementary grades and have had a lot of success with word walls and reading games. Every meeting session begins with some form of vocabulary game or exercise. We work with Bingo and Jeopardy game templates and other computer-based games for reviewing and reinforcing vocabulary. McNeill Designs has developed a word game that is great ("You've Been Sentenced") that is challenging for students at this level. Word ladders are fun and easy -- and there are many card games available ( or you can make your own) to work on analogies, synonyms, antonyms, homophones, and specific grade level vocabulary games can be taught from Marzano's book on teaching vocab.
I need more time to think!

[Susan Stephenson, the Book Chook]

I taught ESL in China and found games an excellent way to motivate my kids to overcome their shyness in "having a go" in front of others.

One site I wish I'd had then is Mike Kloran's My English Images site. He is a wonderful cartoon-style artist who makes his art work available to other teachers in the form of vocabulary cards and activities you can adapt to your own class. Jason Renshaw at English Raven does have some freebies in vocab area, and EFL Ning has scads of suggestions.

[Lori Falchi]

Thanks, Phyllis. I greatly appreciate your ideas on games! Thanks, Susan! I will look up those resources-what teacher doesn't love freebies. Both of your suggestions seem to point to the power of play.

[Lori Falchi]

Skits! What a great idea. I love the construction of words out of words/word parts too. Thank you, Elizabeth.

[Melissa L]

Although I am a high school teacher, I am committing this upcoming school year to designing a word wall for my high school students' vocabulary words. I plan on using multiple methods to teach the vocab. (skits, charades, drawing games, etc.) and then continue to refer back to these words throughout the school year.

Is this going to work or am I crazy?

[Phyllis Ain]

Word walls work! Wait -- they only work if they are highly visible, if kids need to use the words, and if kids use the words at least 5-7 times so the word imprints and becomes part of "memory." I just started using word walls this year -- thought that this was just for little kids, but I was wrong. I now explicitly pre-teach words on the wall, and regularly ask kids to revisit words and use them in writing, in speaking, in sorting and matching activities, in oral exercises, and in jeopardy and bingo reviews, along with other games, over an extended period (a thematic unit or over the course of a book). Word walls work across content areas.
Our biggest obstacle to reading growth out where I teach is vocabulary. Most of the kids I teach are English Language Learners and academic vocabulary, along with higher level words, are challenging. So targeting vocabulary is a priority.

[Melissa L]

Awesome! I've already started printing them in size 200 font and pasting them onto a bright green construction paper. Then I am going to post them on the walls of my room (probably starting over the chalkboard and moving out). I plan to explicitly teach each word and then constantly refer back to it. My goal is to have a room full of words that students have clearly mastered by the end of the school year!

[Lori Falchi]

Cool ideas about use of word walls. Personally, I really love making signage. If you involve students to design the word cards and to take ownership it may help with the buy-in. It may not be appropriate to every setting, but you could show graffiti art (there are some very coolbooks)

[Phyllis Ain]

The graphics and graffiti ideas are great! Wherever possible, use great images along with or next to the word. If kids design them, even better. I just don't post written definitions. Kids constantly see words and learn to use them through different activities for practice.

[Phyllis Ain]

Be careful, Melissa. Too many words at once may be overwhelming. Enough words are challenging, and kids actually look for the words as they read. Think of ways to provide practice; Rick Wormelli wrote a book on Summarizing and there are lots of creative ways to show what you know in the content areas. One of my favorites is a RAFT and you can use these ideas to have kids show what they know about content using a number of different formats. Practice over time is the key

[James Bucky Carter]

I have to agree that integrating visuals can be an important aspect. I might try to draw your attention to dual coding theory to help you inform your practice as well. Also, don't be afraid to get creative by adding or tweaking elements from Words Their Way or other sources. I have used superhero names and powers, basketball team logos, etc. to teach certain words or word parts, for example, and find that word sorts with visuals often add a new element. I've got an article on this in Classroom Notes Plus if you have access to NCTE publications. I also feel compelled to share this with you. :)

Best,
James Bucky Carter

[Melissa L]

Thanks everyone! You are all an awesome resource!
I've just finished reading READICIDE and it has put my entire educational philosophy into new perspective because I felt like I was the only teacher who felt the way Gallagher does about education.

Why am I giving ten words a week and a vocab quiz on Fridays? Are students really getting any word acquisition from this? I can't just sit at my desk and pretend students are learning new vocab words on their own.

My plan was to get rid of the ten words a week and focus on maybe three words a week instead - I've already started going through my units to find words that are both SAT appropraite and real world necessary, but I haven't really thought about how I am going to continue to get students to practice.

I am definitely going to check those books out. I have a lot of great ideas for introducing words and coming up with different tricks for memorizing them using visuals, sound, kinesthetic, teaching prefixes/suffixes/roots.....I am going to mix it up weekly.

Any other websites or suggestions are greatly appreicated! :) In fact, James, could you explain in more detail your superhero names, team logos activity? Thanks.