Effective Strategies for Vocabulary Instruction in Middle Level Education

1. I Know That Word! Effective Vocabulary Instruction Ideas Compiled By: Michelle Wagner M.S. Middle Level Education M.S. Reading Curriculum & Instruction

2. (Feldman, 2008)

3. Vocabulary • Vocabulary refers to the words that students are able to recognize and use when reading, writing, or listening.

4. 3 TiersofVocabulary

5. Why is Vocabulary Important? • Our ultimate goal is comprehension. • Reading teachers want students to comprehend texts. • Science teachers want students to comprehend complex scientific concepts • Math teachers want students to understand mathematical concepts. • State tests want to measure student comprehension in every area.

6. What Words Do I Teach? • Big Idea Words • Words With Multiple Meanings

8. Semantic mapping, semantic feature analysis, and word maps are effective because: • They are flexible, adaptable, and require minimal preparation time. • They activate students’ prior knowledge of words or concepts. • They help students understand the relationship between words. • They may improve students’ recall of word meaning.

9. Increasing Word Consciousness • Guide students to understand the difference between the ways words are used in written language and conversation. • Have students keep a journal of effective written language, including well-written descriptions, figurative language, or dialogue. • Write a dull version of a particularly well-written paragraph or chapter, and read both versions to the class. Discuss the differences and what makes language effective and exciting. • Incorporate word plays such as palindromes, puns, jokes, and riddles into your instructional routines.

10. Teach Word Parts! Give students the skills to tackle new words!

11. Ideas For Teaching Word Parts • Using a pocket chart, demonstrate how to manipulate word parts to make real words. Discuss how adding or removing an affix changes the meaning of a word. • Write word parts on index cards and have the students make real words with a partner or in small groups. Have students discuss how adding or removing an affix changes the meaning of each word. • Give partners or small groups of students a stack of index cards containing prefixes, suffixes, and base words. Have partners or groups work together to make a complete list of real words with their stack of word parts. • Have students use word part cards to generate silly words, or “words” that are not real words but that illustrate how prefixes and suffixes can change the meaning of words. This is most effective for prefixes, as suffixes often change a word’s part of speech rather than clearly altering the word’s meaning.

12. But…That’s The ELA Teacher’s Job! This is only true if you teach a subject that does not require comprehension. • Directly teach the most commonly used affixes and roots. • • Give students strategies for chunking, or breaking words apart.

13. Teach Students Context Clues

15. Sample Context Clues Charts These can be tricky so this is a great group work assignment.

16. Word Maps

17. Word Walls

18. Keeping Track Of Vocab

19. Vocabulary Comprehension is Critical Comprehension improves when you know what the words mean. Since comprehension is the ultimate goal of reading, you cannot overestimate the importance of vocabulary development. Words are the currency of communication. A robust vocabulary improves all areas of communication — listening, speaking, reading and writing. How many times have you asked your students or your own children to “use your words"? When children and adolescents improve their vocabulary, their academic and social confidence and competence improve, too. F. Alexander

20. References Feldman, K. (2008). Instructional strategies for teaching vocabulary to diverse learners. Retrieved from: http://www2.ed.gov/programs/readingfirst/2008conferences/diverse.pdf Echevarria, Vogt, & Short, 2004; Grognet et al., 2000).