Vocabulary Tools and Strategies

Why Teach Vocabulary Vocabulary deficits are a major cause of problems with reading comprehension Students with low SES have a fraction of the vocabulary of those with higher SES –Entering kindergarten with half the vocabulary of a high SES student, and adding new words at a much slower rate. Context is not enough – explicit instruction of vocabulary is also needed

How to Introduce Vocabulary Limit number: 5-10 words at a time Provide student-friendly definitions Provide context clue sentences Create activities that will engage students in dealing with the words’ meaning –Writing which connects to personal experiences –Graphic organizers, thinking activities, and games Use multiple strategies, repeated exposures 12 exposures enough for most students, but others require 20 or more

Some Tools and Strategies Vocabulary Cartoons LINCS Index Cards Synonym/Antonym Fill-in-the-blank Frayer Model And many more!

Vocabulary Cartoons

Students create flash cards with their own word-sound and picture links LINCS Vocabulary Strategy (Ellis, 2000) Word  Reminding Word  Reminding Story  Picture  Definition

Creating LINCS Study Cards fief 1. Draw a line across the middle of both sides of an index card. 2. Write the word on the top half of one side. Then circle it. Land given by king for fighting in army fief 3. Write the parts of the definition you need to remember on the. top of the other side.

Creating LINCS Study Cards (cont.) Land given by king for fighting in army fief 4. Write the Reminding Word on the bottom of the first side. chief 5. Write the LINCing Story and draw the LINCing picture on the bottom half of the second side. Chief of his land Land given by king for fighting in army fief chief

He gave lots of food for the table giving, generous charitable table My pet constantly barks constantly perpetual pet LINCS Study Cards – More examples

Provided definition to make your own LINCS card Mitosis: Asexual reproduction of cells

Synonym/Antonym Fill-in-the-Blanks Word AntonymSynonym domestic for_ign _____________________ prosperity p_v_rty_____________________ revenue p_ym_nts_____________________ rural urb_n_____________________ subsequent prev_ous _____________________

Frayer Model Definition integer ExamplesNon-examples Facts Word/Concept

Frayer Model Definition integer ExamplesNon-examples Facts Word/Concept - Is a number - Has no fractional or. decimal part - May be positive - May be negative - May be zero

Frayer Model Definition integer ExamplesNon-examples Facts Word/Concept - Is a number - Has no fractional or. decimal part - May be positive - May be negative - May be zero /3

And More Tools & Strategies

Concept Sort / List-Group-Label Used to introduce the vocabulary of a new topic, or to review already-learned vocabulary.  Teacher identifies words,  Creates several sets of cards (one word per card)  Students sort word cards into categories  Categories can be defined by the teacher or the students. Example For introducing a book about trees. Sort words into categories:  Parts of a tree  Types of trees  Where trees grow  What trees need to grow deciduousleaveswaterbark evergreenforestsbranchesmountains sunlightsoilrootsrainforest

Prefix / Root / Suffix

Semantic Feature Analysis FDRJFKNixonReaganClinton Democrat ++ –– + Wartime a President + – + –– Congress of same party -/+ + – Reelected + – +++ Served in Congress – ++ –– Won majority of popular vote + – -/+ + –

Word Hunt Provide a text (newspaper, book, magazine, etc.) and have students find/highlight all words with a certain characteristic. Example: Find all words ending in –ate or –ation Other characteristics might be:  Words describing people, Republicans, Democrats etc.  Words related to geography  Words setting mood or tone  Words that contain certain prefixes or suffixes  Words that mean add or subtract (math) List the words and discuss/write a brief definition / synonym for each. Discuss other words with those characteristics.

Word Box Definition Sentence Word Synonym Antonym Related words Picture

B I N G O isolateneutralagriculturesuffrage prosperitysubsequentdominationinnovation monarchyratifyexcessivelegislate amendunanimousurbanrevenue

Check out digital versions of these vocabulary tools at: autoliteracy.wikispaces.com

References Allen, J. (1999). Words, Words, Words: Teaching Vocabulary in Grades Portland, Maine: Steinhouse Publications. ISBN: www.steinhouse.com Beck, I.,McKeown, M.,Kucan, L. (2002). Bringing Words to Life: Robust Vocabulary Instruction. NY: Guilford Press Ellis, E. S. (2000). The LINCS Vocabulary Strategy. Lawrence, Kansas: Edge Enterprises, Inc. Adolescent Literacy website