The Vocabulary-Rich Classroom
Wade Davis, Section B, 2-11-16
Summary
Talking about vocabulary and how it can be properly integrated into the classroom, this article provides two classroom examples of how students learned higher-level words. Ms. Barker's kindergarten class was given jobs throughout the year. However, as the year went on, common terms like "weather man" became meteorologist following their familiarity with the easier term. Ms. Rivas's fourth grade class started every day with greeting each other and complimenting a partner. At the beginning of the year, the words used were simple, but by the end they became more sophisticate. The students even began to feel eager to learn more words.
There were also areas of vocabulary in general covered. It talked about some different types of vocab: oral (used in speaking and listening), print (used in reading and writing), receptive (recognized when heard or seen), and productive (able to understand them). With this, there are three tiers of vocab. The first one includes common words most children know. The second tier involves words related to comprehension and frequently used by mature language learners. This is the level that our vocabulary teaching should be focused on. The final tier possesses low-frequency words that are content driven and covered when encountered. Lastly, we as teachers are to challenge students, because "dumbing down" our word choice only does our students a disservice. Students are asked to relate words to their own prior knowledge and experience, allowing them to recall information better and make their learning more personal.
Importance
My Opinion
Other Sources Over Vocabulary
Questions
1.) What makes you nervous about teaching vocabulary and why?
2.) What are some other ways to integrate new vocabulary in the classroom?
3.) Do you recall any of your previous teachers teaching new vocab words? If so, what did they do and did you find it to be successful?
Citations
Cox, Janelle. "Teaching Strategies: 5 Ideas for Instructing Vocabulary." TeachHUB. Web. 11 Feb. 2016. http://www.teachhub.com/teaching-strategies-5-ideas-instructing-vocabulary.
"College Talk." YouTube. YouTube. Web. 11 Feb. 2016. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OpndyP9Kg64>.
Hansen, Randall S. " EnhanceMyVocabulary.com." Easy Ways to Improve and Expand Your Vocabulary. Web. 11 Feb. 2016. <http://www.enhancemyvocabulary.com/improve-expand-vocabulary.html>.
Lane, H. B., & Allen, S. A. (2010). The Vocabulary-Rich Classroom: Modeling Sophisticated Word Use to Promote Word Consciousness and Vocabulary Growth. The Reading Teacher, 63(5), 362-370.