Transcript Vocabulary & language development

How many words to introduce to
children per week:
K- three
 1st grade- 5
 2nd grade- 5-8
 3rd grade 8-10
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Some strategies for teaching
vocabulary
Vocabulary posters- take words from
readings and have children write the word,
sentence in readings that uses the word,
and the definition.
 Have children present it (see Tompkins PP
170).
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Making words
Making words: eg: RSNIA.
 Students will make several words from
this.
 Students will categorize the words
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Word walls
May include high frequency and
vocabulary words.
 Arrange alphabetically because they add
up over the course of year.
 Can expand and do word sorts
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Word sorts
Sorting words using different criteria.
 Sounds, verbs/nouns/adjectives, places,
etc
 Description of different characters, etc
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dramatization
Choose word from wordwall and dramatize
for classmates.
 Especially effective for English language
learners.
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Word chain
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Choose a word from word wall and have
children identify 3-4 words to sequence
before or after the word to make a chain.
Eg: Tadpole- egg, tadpole, frog;
temparature: freezing, cold, cool, warm,
hot, boiling.
How children learn words

Incidental word knowledge- through readalouds, independent reading, participation
in talk activities )pp 175 of Tompkins has a
list of good read alouds for preK-3rd grade)
Levels of word knowledge
Unknown words- no knowledge at all
 Initial recognition- have seen or heard,
and may pronounce word but don’t know
meaning
 Partial word knowledge- know one
meaning of word & can use in sentence.
 Full word knowledge- know more than one
meaning or several ways to use it.

Guidelines for teaching vocabulary
Choose from books children are reading
 Feature important and useful words on word walls.
 Scaffold for children as they develop full knowledge by
teaching multiple meanings (affixes, synonyms,
antonyms, and figurative meanings).
 Read aloud to children every day.
 Provide daily opportunities for children to read everyday.
 Encourage children to use new vocabulary in disussions
and in writing.
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Other guidelines
Teacher should involve children identify
words to go on word walls.
 Teacher chooses important words for mini
lessons.
 Teacher should avail dictionaries and
thesaurus meant for children’s age.
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