1. Vocabulary Strategies Teaching Vocabulary Skills July 10, 2009

2. Mystery Word of the Day This is a great game to use at the beginning of each class. Here’s How it works –The teacher creates 5 or 6 clues for which on word can be put in the blank for all clues. –The teacher puts up one clues, and the students brainstorm all the words that could fit in the blank while the teacher records the words (or you can have a student do this). –The teacher puts up the next clue, and the students add words and delete previous words that won’t work in the current clue.

3. Mystery Word continued How it works…. –This process continues through the last clue and students decide what the final word is. Examples

4. Semantic Feature Analysis Easy graphic organizer that allows students to see similarities and differences of a group of words. How it works –In the left column, list the key terms and concepts for the topic being studied –List characteristics that your list of words might share at the top of the graphic organizer –Students us a +, -, or ? to tell whether the words are related to the characteristics across the top. –Students explain answers –See example provided

5. Anticipating Words This allows students to make connections and gives a purpose for reading How it works –Write the beginning letters of key words in the text the students are reading –Provide the students with the list of letters and the title or a picture –Students then brainstorm all the words based on the information given –Students then compare their lists to the actual words in the text