The Problem of Vocabulary: Defining Best Practice for Struggling Readers Michael C. McKenna Georgia Southern University

1. The Problem of Vocabulary: Defining Best Practice for Struggling Readers Michael C. McKenna Georgia Southern University

2. connotation denotation sociogram distinguishing feature distributed practice open sort word family

3. What is vocabulary?

4. word-hoard estuary argon id

5. What is vocabulary? • Speaking vocabulary • Listening vocabulary • Reading vocabulary • Writing vocabulary • General vocabulary • Technical vocabulary • Meaning vocabulary Modality Domain

6. What is vocabulary? • Speaking vocabulary • Listening vocabulary • Reading vocabulary • Writing vocabulary • General vocabulary • Technical vocabulary • Meaning vocabulary Modality Domain

7. What is vocabulary? • Speaking vocabulary • Listening vocabulary • Reading vocabulary • Writing vocabulary • General vocabulary • Technical vocabulary • Meaning vocabulary Modality Domain

8. What is vocabulary? • Speaking vocabulary • Listening vocabulary • Reading vocabulary • Writing vocabulary • General vocabulary • Technical vocabulary • Meaning vocabulary Modality Domain

9. What is vocabulary? • Speaking vocabulary • Listening vocabulary • Reading vocabulary • Writing vocabulary • General vocabulary • Technical vocabulary • Meaning vocabulary Modality Domain

11. 1755 Dictionary of the English Language

12. 1755 Dictionary of the English Language 114,000 words

13. 1755 Dictionary of the English Language 114,000 words impertransibility queck nould

14. 1755 Dictionary of the English Language 114,000 words 2005 Oxford English Dictionary (3rd ed.)

15. 1755 Dictionary of the English Language 114,000 words 2005 Oxford English Dictionary (3rd ed.) 660,000+ words

16. webcam cyberphobic doh 2005 Oxford English Dictionary (3rd ed.) 660,000+ words

17. English users follow set rules for coining new words, thus adding greatly to the number of potential words in the language.

18. English users follow set rules for coining new words, thus adding greatly to the number of potential words in the language. The postman likes our street because it is dogless.

19. Are you a logophile?

20. 50K 40K 30K 20K 10K 0 5,000 • 1,500 • K 12

21. 50K 40K 30K 20K 10K 0 45,000 17,000 5,000 1,500 K 12

22. A Vocabulary Riddle To comprehend what we read, at least 95% of the words must be recognized automatically. How is this possible given the number of words in English?

23. NRP Findings on Vocabulary • Teaching vocabulary improves general comprehension ability. • Preteaching vocabulary helps both word learning and comprehension of a selection. • Much vocabulary is acquired through incidental exposure. • Repeated exposures in a variety of contexts are important.

24. The Vocabulary Catch-22 Children need to learn more words to read well, but they need to read well to learn more words. McKenna, M.C. (2004). Teaching vocabulary to struggling older readers. Perspectives, 30(1), 13-16.

25. NRP Findings on Vocabulary • A combination of definitions and contextual examples works better than either one alone. • Many instructional methods can be effective in teaching vocabulary. • Instructional methods should result in active engagement. • Both direct and indirect methods should be used.

26. NRP Findings on Vocabulary • The more connections that are made to a word, the better the word tends to be learned. • Computer applications can be effective. • The effectiveness of some instructional methods depends on the age or ability of the children.

27. What the NRP said they didn’t know about vocabulary instruction • Which methods work best with students of different ages and abilities? • How can technology best be used to teach vocabulary? • How is vocabulary best integrated with comprehension instruction? • What combinations of instructional methods tend to work best? • What are the best ways to assess vocabulary?

29. What are some of the guiding principles of teaching vocabulary?

31. Guiding Principle Preteach key words to improve comprehension.

32. In 1367, Marain and the settlements ended a seven-year war with the Langurians and Pitoks. As a result of this war, Languria was driven out of East Bacol. Marain would now rule Laman and the other lands that once belonged to Languria. This brought peace to the Bacolean settlements. The settlers no longer had to worry about attacks from Laman. The Bacoleans were happy to be part of Marain in 1367. Yet a dozen years later, these same people would be fighting the Marish for independence, or freedom from United Marain’s rule.

33. In 1763, Britain and the colonies ended a seven-year war with the French and Indians. As a result of this war, France was driven out of North America. Britain would now rule Canada and the other lands that once belonged to France. This brought peace to the American colonies. The settlers no longer had to worry about attacks from Canada. The Americans were happy to be part of Britain in 1763. Yet a dozen years later, these same people would be fighting the British for independence, or freedom from Great Britain’s rule.

35. Guiding Principle Provide more than definitions.

36. WORD = DEFINITION

37. WORD = DEFINITION Stimulus Response

38. WORD = DEFINITION Stimulus Response truncate “to cut off”

39. WORD = DEFINITION Stimulus Response truncate “to cut off” “She truncated the lights.”

40. Connotations What’s the difference between a fiddle and a violin?

41. Combine definitions and contextual examples. Guiding Principle

42. Guiding Principle Minimize rote copying of definitions.

43. Guiding Principle Introduce new words in related clusters.

44. antennae leg thorax wing abdomen In content areas, clustering words is natural!

45. But general vocabulary words can also be clustered – if you work at it!

48. fuselage flaps rudder stabilizer landing gear tail lift drag puce spire cad drab deft fad apt wry Which list is easier to learn?

49. puce

50. puce beigemagenta tealochre cyan mauve saffron chartreuse