You also know that it can be difficult to find high-quality vocabulary resources online. Vocabulary websites: Features to look out forĪs an educator, you know that a strong vocabulary is essential for success in both reading and writing. In this post, we will introduce some websites that can help augment your vocabulary. However, there are many websites available that can help you improve your vocabulary skills. Both teachers and parents may access a broad range of materials to help them enhance and develop their vocabulary with a single click.Īs a middle school student, it can be difficult to find fun and informative vocabulary resources. Learning a new language is now simpler than ever, owing to the Internet. It may not be trendy or even really fun, but research-based vocabulary instruction needs to be an essential part of our instruction.Vocabulary is essential for language acquisition, and a solid command of it is required, particularly for developing one’s style of writing and speaking abilities. “Given the importance of academic background knowledge and the fact that vocabulary is such an essential aspect of it, one of the most crucial servies that teachers can provide, particularly for students who do not come from academically advantaged backgrounds is systematic instruction in important academic terms.” When it comes to vocabulary, Marzano and Pickering break it down is the most straight up way in Building Academic Vocabulary: Teacher’s Manual, (2005): That way we can collect a big picture representation of our months of comprehensive learning. In my high school classroom, the chart paper moves from the podium (when we’re in the middle of unit) and then stays on the wall the rest of the year. After I started using them a few years ago, I’ve found them central to mentally locking down concepts for students. I know anchor charts dominate most elementary classrooms, but I don’t feel like they get enough playtime at the secondary level. Each time they close read a new primary document or revisit the concept in an Article of the Week, I point it out on our unit’s anchor chart, discussing the variations of meaning. Lastly, we continuously reference the terms throughout the unit. If a kid’s gotta break out the Sherman Anti-Trust Act dance move in order to remember it’s deeper meaning, I say go for it.ĥ. What’s interesting is that I notice some kids subtly moving through the physical representations during our assessments. Mostly these are simple, impromptu moves that we create on the spot during our interactive lectures. Instead of drawing our “non-linguistic representations,” we create quick, dance moves to correspond with a few of the terms. Sometimes they replicate my drawing, but mostly they come up with something on their own, far better than my original.ĭepending on the unit and the particular vocab terms, we sometimes do a kinesthetic mix-up. As I’m creating my thirty-second masterpiece, students sketch their own images. Most of the time, mine are stick figures, and my fifteen-year old art critics tease me because I’ve given Carnegie three eyes or whatever.Ĥ. Trust me! This doesn’t have to be Caldecott-worthy artwork. Next, I draw my own quick sketch of the term. Regardless, this kind of vocabulary instruction was ineffective then and still is today.ģ. I don’t know what exactly he was doing at his desk it’s certainly not like he was surfing the Internet back then. Back in the ’90s, my teacher would give us a study guide of 30+ vocab terms, send us to the back of our textbooks to record the definitions, and chillax at his desk. “AP Coloring”… We spent A LOT of time coloring in maps that year!). In some ways, this makes me think back to my own World History class in ninth grade (i.e. If I have some forty+ academic vocab words for each unit, how can I seriously think that 1) my students are going to masterthem all and 2) all of the terms really are essential? The same goes for choosing too many terms. When we ignore the research, hurrying our lesson along to the “fun” or “trendy” activity, our students actually miss the chance to deepen their understanding of what really matters. But, somehow–despite our better judgement–we do this!
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