Vocabulary ideas Help!

[SMH]

I want to do more with reading vocabulary words! I have a vocabulary word of the day from the Superkids vocabulary website. I sometimes use our reading vocab words as challenge words for spelling. I have done something called vocab hot seat - for a week I keep certain vocab words on the board and review them. At the end of the week, one person comes up front and I write the word on the board and the class gives the person clues until they guess what the word is. I could give quizzes but I want to have some more ideas.

 

[MrJohns]

Cards

I use the five challenge words in our spelling list each week as the kids vocab. They are responsible for making a vocabulary card for each word. On each 5x8 card they need to have five things. Four in the corners and one under the vocab word in the middle of the card.

CORNERS;
1. Synonym
2. Picture
3. Part of speech
4. Use of word in their own sentence.

Challenge Word written in the center of the card (Underlined) with the sentence and the page number from the story that we are reading that week.

I also have done the vocabulary in comic strips, and advertising posters(depending on the words.)

 

[fun_friend]

I have made matching games with a number of new vocabulary words from novels. I put the class in groups of 2-3 to match the words with definitions. This is just one strategy I use to drill the words. I've had students make cards like the previous poster described. I have students compose sentences with individual words using a grammar strategy we are learning as tickets out the door. I have created crossword puzzles using words from the word wall. I've read that students need multiple encounters with words in order to really learn them. I just wish I had the time to dream up even more strategies to bring the kids together with the vocabulary. I truly believe that vocabulary equals intelligence/learnedness/education or whatever you want to call it. The more words you truly know, the smarter you really are.

 

[fun_friend]

I have made matching games with a number of new vocabulary words from novels. I put the class in groups of 2-3 to match the words with definitions. This is just one strategy I use to drill the words. I've had students make cards like the previous poster described. I have students compose sentences with individual words using a grammar strategy we are learning as tickets out the door. I have created crossword puzzles using words from the word wall. I've read that students need multiple (15?) encounters with words in order to really learn them. I just wish I had the time to dream up even more strategies to bring the kids together with the vocabulary (or even to have the time to put together all the ideas I've taken from others) I truly believe that vocabulary equals intelligence/learnedness/education or whatever you want to call it. The more words you truly know, the smarter you really are.

 

[Christine]

vocab words

I have never tried this, but have heard that it works well. Have the students find words they don't know (they can be independent reading words, science, social studies words, etc). Have them write the words on an index card and once a week, collect them. You may want them to include something else, like the sentence they found it or a definition - but this may be hard if they don't know the meaning.

Then pull the words and use them for vocab. instruction (the number of words depends on how many your class can handle ). Then give points or rewards to students who use the words when talking or writing. They say this works because students are taking ownership of their own words.

 

[ohuio]

ohkiy7

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[PEPteach]

Vocabulary usage board

I just got this idea off of a website and have been only using it for a month, but I love it! I have a Vocabulary Words of the Week chart in my room. Every week, I choose the three vocabulary words that I think are most important for my kids to learn. On the chart, I have three columns: I said it, I heard it, I wrote it, (I'm thinking about adding I read it). Every time a child does one of those things with a vocab word, they put a tally mark by it, and under the correct column. The chart is laminated, so I just wipe it off every week. The kids get so excited about going up there and putting a tally mark, that they really try to incorporate the vocab into their everyday language. And it takes no extra class time!!!

 

[Stefanie]

Vocabulary Ideas

I just heard yesterday in a workshop how important it is to to put in your pocket chart, along with the vocabulary word, a picture (if possible) of the vocabulary word, and the definition. You can go to Google.com and click on images and go from there to get some really good pictures. Oh, the workshop was presented by a Houghton Mifflin Reading Representative.

 

[SC]

Vocab

I have made word webs where the words are in the middle, and students have to include a synonym, antonym, and sentence, along with a picture.

My 6th graders last year chose their own words as they read. It's a good idea, but it's difficult to evaluate because some of my students chose easy words.

This year we've played bingo, and the students love it. I put the words on a bingo card, and they mark the words as I read out the definitions. It's fun