Vocabulary+Strategies


 * Vocabulary Instruction **

The Institute of Education Sciences reported that there is strong evidence to support the need for explicit vocabulary instruction across content areas. It is the first recommendation in their practice guide [|Improving Adolescent Literacy: Effective Classroom and Intervention Practices.]  The IES makes the following recommendations for vocabulary instruction in all content areas:
 * Why Vocabulary? **


 * Read the full IES report [|here]
 * Read a powerpoint summary of the IES report here

=LANGUAGE BASED VOCABULARY STRATEGIES = These strategies engage students through vocabulary applications that require reading, writing, speaking and/or listening.
 * **Word Splash **—A pre-reading strategy where a teacher orally reads a list of vocab from a specific reading. Students then circle words they think they know and underline those that they do not. Next, students work individually or collaboratively to use some or all of the words in a brief story or sentence explanation, or prediction. Students then share stories/sentences, pointing out common themes. Finally, students read selected text. This could also work as a summative assessment where students have to use key vocabulary terms to explain a concept in a longer, graded piece of writing.
 * [[file:Math Wordsplash Example.pdf]]
 * **<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Vocabulary Text Rendering **<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">—Assign students a piece of text to read that is rich in thematic vocabulary. Students UNDERLINE words that they feel are important and CIRCLE words that they are unfamiliar with, MAKE NOTES in the margin about why they circled the word or what they THINK a word might mean. Students then share their observations with a partner or in a small group, attempting to define as many of the words as they can. Bring the whole group together for a discussion based around commonly identified terms.


 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">**Word Sort**- Print vocabulary words on small slips of paper. Put students into pairs and have them “sort” the words into categories…however they see fit. Students then share out with larger groups, explaining their decisions. One group can do this at the front of the room on an interactive whiteboard.
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">[[file:Math Word Sort.pdf]]


 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">**Knowledge Rating--** A sort of word sort where students rate each new vocab word as "Words I Can Define," "Words I Recognize, " and "Words I've Never Heard."


 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">**Dump and Clump**--Students are given a list of words orally (“Dump”), then asked to “Clump” the words together in several categories that make sense to them.. They should then give each category a title and write a sentence explaining why they clumped the words under the title they have chosen.
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">[[file:Dump_and_Clump.doc]]
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">**<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">3x3 Vocab **<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">—students put given vocabulary words into a 3x3 table (or the teacher per-determines word arrangement in the table), then students write sentences that utilize and connect three words down, across, diagonally, or however you choose.
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">[[file:3x3_Vocab.doc]]


 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">**<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Connect Two **<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">- Give students a list of vocabulary words (10-12) and have them write a few sentences that connect two of the words. “I would connect and because…” This could be done as a pre-reading or post reading assessment as well.


 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">**<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Vocab Cinquain **<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">- students show vocab knowledge by writing a structured five line poem called a cinquain.
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">[[file:Cinquain Worksheet.pdf]]


 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">**<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Vocabulary Song Lyrics **<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">- Students take rich, conceptual vocabulary words and write an expanded definition in the form of a song. They could rewrite existing song lyrics or write/produce their own.
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">[|Here is an example that defines the scientific method.]
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">[|Rock the SATs] <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> does this well with SAT vocabulary - available on iTunes as well.

= = =<span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Georgia,serif;">IMAGE BASED VOCABULARY STRATEGIES = <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">These strategies engage students by supplying them with a visual or graphical context for exploring vocabulary.


 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Access an online **<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">visual thesaurus **<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> like <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">[|Visuwords] <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">, <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">[|Thinkmap Visual Thesaurus_] <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">, <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">[|Lexipedia] <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> (primary – with audio). Insert the word and watch what happens.Each provide not only a root, definitions, examples but strategic connections to other words. Students can choose the appropriate word and replace the ‘worn out word’ in their text. have students reread the text several times so they can hear the different words in use and can build understanding. (As with any online tool, preview the sites and words for appropriateness.)


 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">**<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Linear Arrays **<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">—Students put similar words into a graphic continuum according to shades of meaning. [[image:https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/P4iytqQodwEtE5OHyh_9JdOha1ujxQhADcnsE-i3BE4_CyGyEKPPdMfp3FRzGi9QPb-efKYi1hP2j-0of-u0R7muFxHoZuZvaZRqn9fghT_iDyO0Sjq9 width="233" height="228" align="right"]][[image:Screen shot 2012-08-29 at 8.30.49 AM.png width="467" height="153" align="left"]]


 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">**<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Frayer Model- **<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">This is a chart that has students explore thorough understanding of a vocab word by including [[image:thedigitalshift/Screen shot 2012-08-29 at 8.24.01 AM.png width="393" height="202" align="left"]]examples, non-examples, characteristics, and definition.
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">**<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">A thorough explanation, examples and templates for Frayer Model vocab. [[file:FrayerModel.pdf]] **
 * Google Doc Template


 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">**Concept Circles** -similar to a Frayer Model, but using a circle diagram this activity helps students make connections to explore vocabulary more in depth.
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="wiki_link_ext">[[file:concept_circles.pdf]]
 * **Vocab Shorts-**-Students create short vocab movies to illustrate a word or concept. This example was made using the program Extranormal. Note how it defines the word through both example AND non-example!

=<span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Georgia,serif;">EXPERIENTIAL VOCABULARY STRATEGIES =

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">These strategies involve students in kinesthetic experiences that promote vocabulary practice and application through interactivity.


 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">**Drama Strategies**-Students work individually or in small groups to act out a vocabulary word or concept.
 * For more drama strategies to use in your classroom, check out this five part series from the NY Time
 * http://dramaticapproachestoteaching.com/ - another resource for ideas about how to use drama in the classroom.
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">**<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Word Walls- **<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Frequently used in elementary classrooms, word walls can also be very effective in secondary education. These are highly visible, ongoing displays of key vocabulary words that can be used as a visual reference throughout a unit of study. There are many ways to approach a word wall, but research recommends that they are: Highly visible, visually engaging and memorable, //used// in instruction, and created by students.
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 * **Secondary Word Wall ideas from Jennifer Cronsberry and curriculum.org** [[file:World_Walls_-_A_Support_for_Literacy_in_Secondary_School_Classrooms.pdf]]
 * **Other Ideas for Incorporating Word Walls into instruction:**
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">**<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Gallery Walk- **<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Words could be categorized in different stations throughout the room. Students walk around the room in small groups, completing a specific task at each stop.
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">**<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Quick Draw- **<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Students divide apiece of paper into four quadrants. Teacher selects a word from the Word Wall and instructs students to write this word at the top of a quadrant, then gives two minutes to draw a picture to represent the given vocab word. Share out pictures and explanations. Repeat to fill all squares.
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">**<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Word Wall Sort- **<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Students work in small groups create their own word walls by doing a word sort activity and taping words to a word wall. Follow up with a gallery walk to compare sorts. This could also work with teacher setting up categories around the room, then giving students various words to place in those categories.
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Digital Word Wall

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 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">**<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">"Kick Me" Strategy **<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">--students interact with vocabulary while wearing signs taped to their backs . Watch the video below to see this strategy in action:

=Have a strategy that has worked in your classroom? Click here to share!= <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Additional Resources:


 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">[|Adolescent Literacy Strategy Library]
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">Think Literacy- This resource is developed by the Ontario Ministry of Education and is a FANTASTIC resource for cross- curricular literacy strategies.
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">Google Spreadsheet of shared ideas