15 Vocabulary

Strategies
BACKGROUND
• Direct instruction of vocabulary can help students learn
enough words to become better readers, and becoming a
better reader can in turn help students learn even more
vocabulary. So how do we teach students to learn or acquire
new vocabulary? Research suggests that vocabulary
instruction should include the following components:
definitional and contextual information about a word; multiple
exposures to a word in different contexts; and encouragement
of students' active participation in their own learning of the
new words.
Strategy 1 - FRAYER MODEL
• This graphic organizer
helps students to
learn new vocabulary
by not only defining
the term in their own
words, but
contextualizing it
through authentic
examples and visual
representation.
Strategy 2 - Graffiti Vocabulary
• When the vocabulary
words are associate
with subject specific
concepts, have the
student create word
posters. Provide
recognition for good
work by transforming
the student work into
the class word wall!
Strategy 3 - Making Meaning
• This is a great anticipatory activity to introduce students to
context clues. Identify 4-5 vocabulary words from the text
that students will need to understand in order to comprehend
the text. In order to activate prior knowledge, students will
brainstorm what they already know about the vocabulary
term. Do a think-pair-share if you perceive that they will have
difficulty with the new terms. During the reading, use the
think aloud strategy to model how context clues provide
context and give meaning to the vocabulary words.
Strategy 4 - Word Wall Match-
Up
• Authentic learning means
putting the student at the
center of the experience. But
sometimes, they need a little
support, especially when you
are introducing new more
complicated terms. Using the
word wall match-up
strategies, students will using
problem solving and
reasoning skills to match up
terms with definitions, and in
some cases symbolic
representation.
Strategy 5 - Vocabulary Anchor
• There are times when explicitly teaching new vocabulary is
appropriate. Try using a vocabulary anchor to introduce a new
term during whole group instruction. Using an interactive
smartboard, facilitate a class discussion by introducing a new
vocabulary word and a similar term. For instance, introduce
the word 'colony' and identify the word 'state' as a similar
term. Because students are familiar with the meaning of
state, activate their knowledge by asking them what
characteristics the two words have in common (+). Next, use
the think aloud strategy to help students brainstorm how the
term colony is unique (-).
Strategy 6 - Picture Vocabulary
Cartoons
• This strategy, taken from an SAT Prep
resource, is an excellent way to help
students to visualize new words. It
includes the following elements:
• vocabulary term
• phoenetic spelling
• brief description
• linking word
• cartoon
• sentence that uses the vocabulary
term
• Jigsaw this activity at the beginning of
a unit so that each student group is
responsible for one word.
Throughout the unit, refer to the
vocabulary cartoons as the terms
come up in the lessons. Groups must
present their work on the spot.
Strategy 7 - Essential Prefix
• Give students an
opportunity to create a
Prefix Reference Chart
in their notes. A quick
activity at the beginning
of the school year can
help students
breakdown new words
based on their
understanding of
prefixes and root words.
Strategy 8 - Wordsplash
• A wordsplash is a
collection of key words
or concepts chosen
from a passage or
chapter that students
are about to read. This
strategy gives students
a chance to relate the
new words or
concepts to the main
topic of the reading.
Strategy 9 - Interview a Word
• Why not turn vocabulary acquisition into a game? Using the
Interview a Word strategies, students will review and
summarize learning to develop concepts and comprehension.
• Select key words important to understanding a concept or
unit.
• Divide class into teams of 2-4 students.
• Give each team a word and list of interview questions.
• Have students “become” the word and write answer to
questions.
• Without revealing the word, the teacher or a student acts as
Interviewer and asks the questions as team members read
their written answers. After the interview, the class guesses
the word.
Strategy 10 - Word Sorting
• Provide a list of vocabulary words from a reading selection and
have students sort them into various categories (e.g., parts of
speech, branches of government). Students can re-sort words
into "guess my sort" using categories of their own choosing.
Strategy 11 - Vocabulary
Frames
• Turn the traditional vocabulary
review index card into a higher
order thinking strategy for
learning new words. In this
activity, students will create
vocabulary frames using concept
terms. They will develop a
definition based on their own
understanding (right corner), as
well as the opposite (left corner).
Finally, they will write a quirky
sentence to remind them of the
word's meaning (lower left
corner) and a quick sketch (lower
right corner).
Strategy 13 - Crossword
Puzzles
• Believe it or not, crossword puzzles are an excellent way for
students to apply the vocabulary they have already learned.
Include a word bank to support struggling learners.
Strategy 12 - The K.I.M.
Strategy
• This is a basic version of vocabulary frames (see strategy 11)
where students identify the key term, information about it,
and a memory cue based on their own understanding of the
vocabulary term.
Strategy 14 - Vocabulary
Squares
• In this activity, students
'dissect' a word by
completing the
components of the
vocabulary square
worksheet. Not only will
learners understand the
term, they will also
apply their knowledge
by creating a visual
representation and
sentence.
Strategy 15 - Learning Maps
• Learning Maps are a
form of concept
maps that are
developed by the
learner based on
their own
understanding and
experiences with the
concepts.