Visualizing Vocabulary: Moving Beyond Lists and Definitions Victoria A. Oglan Ph.D.

Let’s Predict How many words are there in the English language?

How many words do you think you know?

What is the longest word in the English language??

What word in the English language has the most meanings?

Set has 464 definitions in the Oxford English Dictionary

Run runs a distant second with 396

Rounding out the top 10 are: go with 368 take with 343 stand with 334 get with 289 turn with 288 put with 268 fall with 264 strike with 250

How many metaphors do you use in regular conversation (free discourse)?

It is now well accepted that the chief cause of the achievement gap between socioeconomic groups is a language gap. ~ Ed Hirsch 2003

Struggling readers lack work knowledge Struggling readers do not use visualization as a strategy

Research also tells us: Knowledge of word meaning is critical to success in reading Students learn words through wide reading Knowing a word means more than knowing a definition for the word Discussion leads to vocabulary learning Students learn words through strategy instruction

What Doesn’t Work? Copying definitions Writing sentences Telling students to “use context” Memorizing lists of definitions

Four Principles to Guide Vocabulary Instruction Students should be active learners in vocabulary and strategies to enhance vocabulary Students benefit from personalizing the learning of words

Four Principles to Guide Vocabulary Instruction Students gain from immersion in words Students augment their vocabulary through repeated exposure to words

Comprehensive vocabulary instruction that includes strategy instruction where students are provided opportunities to play with words and language is a necessary part of a plan for academic success.

Some Strategies to Think About… Word sorts Sticky note sentences Cloze tasks Word walls Picture walk (to introduce new words) Rebus Word webs

List, group label Ten important words Kid-Friendly definitions Word wonder ARTiculate the word Word curiosity

Search the web

Become a wordsmith, a lexophile Make your classroom a place where students learn to become language collectors.

One forgets words as one forgets names. One's vocabulary needs constant fertilizing or it will die ~Evelyn Waugh