eVoc Strategies: Using Technology to Build Vocabulary

1. eVoc Strategies: Using Technology to Build Vocabulary Kathryn Gillenwater, Literacy Specialist K-5 Instructional Coach Sullivan County Department of Education Technology Academy-Session 6 June 9, 2011

2. All literate people must learn academic language to access the curriculum • Studies confirm high correlation between vocabulary knowledge and reading comprehension. • Baumann & Kame’enui, 2004 • Academic language is more complex because it involves • abstract literacy tasks • language not customarily used in oral speech Why is vocabulary learning so important?

3. Wide range in students’ word knowledge • As early as age 5, there is a 30-million –word exposure gap between “haves” and “have-nots” (Hart & Risley, 1995) • The Matthew Effect • Strong readers get stronger and weak readers get weaker (Stanovich, 1986) • 4th grade reading slump • Less developed store of conceptual knowledge and vocabulary (Chall & Jacobs, 2003) The Problem

4. Offer strategies for teaching words and word learning strategies • Focus on digital language tools to support just-in-time strategic vocabulary learning and reading • Suggest ways to increase the volume of reading to support students’ incidental vocabulary learning Addressing the Gap

5. Helping students become independent word learners Explicit Teaching of Vocabulary

6. Go to www.wordle.net • Stimulates students’ thinking about the meaning, importance, and relationship of words as they analyze, create, and publish Wordles. • Draws on students’ background knowledge about words and concepts. • Builds visual literacy skills. eVoc Strategy 1: Learn From Visual Displays of Word Relationships Within Text

7. Word Clouds highlight key words and themes.

8. What does the word cloud suggest the article is about? • What seems to be the most important word? • How do these words go together? • Why do you think the Wordle designer chose this shape of word cloud? Prepare students for reading…

9. Do you think the word cloud captured what was most important to learn? • Are there keywords or ideas that were left out? • What terms reflect the main idea? Discussion prompt after reading…

10. www.wordle.net • Do a search on a relevant topic. Select a particular text. Highlight text, click on “edit” and “copy” and minimize. • Go back to Wordle ; click on “Create” and paste text into the applet. • Manipulate the visual display by selecting the color scheme, layout, and font. • Publish to public gallery and print or use a screen capture program TRY IT!

11. Builds conceptual knowledge • Provides multiple exposures • Beck et al., 2008 • Conversations about their reading with adults and peers strengthen students’ word learning. • Biemiller & Boote, 2006 Why it works!

12. trackstar.4teachers.org • Students follow an online journey of annotated websites. • Gain knowledge about words through multiple exposures • Different contexts • Different media eVocStategy 2: Take a Digital Vocabulary Field Trip

13. www.vocabulary.co.il • www.readwritethink.org • Interactive • Word sorts • Picture-word matches • Word scramblers, crosswords • Engage students in playing with word structure and word meanings • Sites can be bookmarked for students independent practice and can provide a basis for whole-group instruction. eVoc Strategy 3: Connect Fun and Learning With Online Vocabulary Games and iPAD/iPod Apps

14. Unlimited creative possibilities to communicate word knowledge • Collaborative publication and engagement • Variety of composing tools and formats • Digital stories • Photo essays • Podcasts • PowerPoint • Word Wiki or word blog eVoc Strategy 4: Have Students Use Media to Express Vocabulary Knowledge

15. Personal association: • I have seen a praying mantis in my backward. They are hard to find because they blend in with the green leaves. • Importance: Camouflage is an important survival technique. Prey can hide from their predators. • Source: • kids.nationalgeographic.com/kids Camouflage: To hide by disguise

16. Write a caption for –investigate

17. What to do when unfamiliar words are encountered in reading? Students Customize Their Own Collection of Supports

18. Students learn to use online dictionaries and thesauri rather than asking the teacher or using print reference materials. • Vary in difficulty; so try out different applications to determine best fit for your students • www.thefreedictionary.com/add2ie.htm#addon • Definition option to right-click menu eVoc Strategy 5: Support Reading and Word Learning With Just-in-Time Vocabulary Reference Support

19. What eVoc strategies are most attractive to you for your student population? Pause and Ponder

20. Reading widely and deeply is important for vocabulary development and reading comprehension. Expand Wide Reading and Incidental Word Learning

21. Expand text options • Bookmark quality sites • www.timeforkids.com/TFK/kids/news • www.weeklyreader.com/featurezone • kids.nationalgeographic.com/kids • kidsblogs.nationalgeographic.com/kidsnews • www.sciencenewsforkids.org eVoc Strategy 6: Increase Reading Volume by Reading Digital Text

22. Analyze your current vocabulary instruction and the needs of your students. What current low-tech tasks might be replaced or enhanced with an eVoc strategy that uses multimedia? Are there gaps in your students’ vocabulary learning skills that can be supported with a digital tool? Take ACTION!

23. View your integration of technology and vocabulary as an opportunity for exploration and inquiry. Where do you see impact on students’ learning and engagement? How might you share what you are learning with other teachers? Do not forget how much fun words can be, especially when evoked in a digital context! A Final Thought