Vocabulary Activities |
Vocabulary Strategies
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Vocabulary is the ability for students to know the meaning of words while also being able to use those words correctly. Vocabulary development is essential for children. The development of vocabulary takes place in school, but it also develops at home. Learning vocabulary helps students learn and become better readers, and also can help them speak more effectively. The development of vocabulary is something that is continuous, and is a life long learning experience. Vocabulary instruction involves integrating vocabulary into all parts of students learning, while providing them with the opportunities to learn new words and how to use them correctly. The National Council of Teachers of English has very good explanations on vocabulary, vocabulary interactions, and effective strategies to use on their website, http://www.ncte.org/magazine/archives/126806.
Activity One: All About Words- With ELL Consideration
All about words is an activity where a list of words are put together that are all about one general topic. Students are able to observe to help them develop their vocabulary. This activity helps students develop awareness with vocabulary and also allows them to observe vocabulary words in a different context. All about words is a good activity for English language learners because the word is companied with a picture beside it. This is helpful because English language learners need the extra support from the pictures to understand the meaning of the word. For example, in the picture to the right there is the word pumpkin under the Fall words chart. If an ELL student didn't know what a pumpkin was they would be able to see the picture below the word pumpkin and make out the meaning of the word. The amazing thing about this activity is that All About Words posters, charts, or lists can be made with a huge variety of topics. The All About Words activity works for students because it is an activity that takes words/pictures students have heard of and relates them under one common theme. Students are developing their vocabulary skills in a context that interests them.
Activity retrieved from: www.pinterest.com
Original Author: http://mrsalbanesesclass.blogspot.com/2011/06/what-day.html
Picture From: www.pinterest.com
Original Author: http://mrsalbanesesclass.blogspot.com/2011/06/what-day.html
Picture From: www.pinterest.com
Activity Two: Meaning Match Up
Meaning Word Matchup is a great game to play for students to develop their vocabulary. It is game you pair up two students and provide the pair with twenty index cards. Each student will each get ten cards. On five of their cards they will write a vocabulary word. Then tell each student to write the definitions of those five words on the remaining five cards, one definition per card. Each student will fill out their ten index cards this way. Once each students index cards are completed, the pair of students will mix of their cards and turn them over vocabulary word/definition face down in five rows of four cards. Player one will turn over two card and if those two cards match up then the player will keep the two cards. If they do not match up then they will turn them face down and it will be player two's turn. This will continue until all the cards are matched up and the teacher comes by and makes sure the correct definition and word are matched up. This is a fun game where students are practicing their vocabulary by matching up the vocab word to it's definition. To add difficulty to this activity the teacher can give each student a different vocabulary list so that they will be able to play other students in the classroom while expanding their learning of different vocabulary words. Meaning Word Matchup is a game every student can play, that will encourage them to study and review their vocabulary words. This will help develop every students vocabulary greatly.
Activity retrieved from: http://www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/03/lp301-01.shtml