welcome to the comprehensive center-region vi audio web conference workshop sheryl beglinger...
TRANSCRIPT
Welcome to the Comprehensive Center-Region VI
Audio Web Conference Workshop
Sheryl Beglinger
Training and Outreach Specialist
Importance of Teaching Vocabulary*
• New learning always builds on what the learner already knows…Learning, as a language-based activity, is fundamentally and profoundly dependent on vocabulary knowledge
• Primary difficulty with sustaining early gains in reading is the lack of adequate vocabulary to meet the broad academic demands that begin in upper-elementary grades and continue throughout schooling.
* Baker, S. D. C. Simmons, and E. J. Kameenui. Vocabulary Acquisition: Synthesis of the Research.
Importance of Teaching Vocabulary*
• Successful vocabulary programs can be defined …by the extent to which they reduce…the vocabulary gap between students with poor versus rich vocabularies
• Primary grade students learn about 3,000 new words/yr.; however, diverse learners acquire vocabulary knowledge at a much slower rate
• Vocabulary differences between students appear early and the vocabulary gap grows increasingly large over time
* Baker, S. D. C. Simmons, and E. J. Kameenui. Vocabulary Acquisition: Synthesis of the Research.
Teaching Vocabulary Using Storybooks
Critical Design Features of Storybook Instruction• Repeated readings of stories • Classic stories or on lists of recommended readings • Performance reading style (Extended intro; few interruptions
during reading, dialogue after reading) • 3 target words per story • Scaffolded story grammar intro and retell
How to Select Words to Preteach• Identify words that are critical to story understanding that are
not explained in the text. • Select words students will "encounter" again (moderate
frequency words) • Preteach meanings of words using examples, synonyms,
definitions • Provide children opportunities to use the words.
Teaching Words Directly
• Guidelines for selecting to-be-learned vocabulary*
http://www.ldonline.org/ld_indepth/teaching_techniques/ellis_clarifying.html
Guidelines for selecting to-be-learned vocabulary
Do ...
Avoid ...
Less is more -- depth is more.Teach fewer vocabulary terms, but teach them in a manner that results in deep understandings of each term.
Teaching or assigning words from textbooks just because they are highlighted in some way (italicized, bold face print, etc.).
Teaching or assigning words just because they appear in a list at the end of a text chapter.
Teaching or assigning words that willl have little utility once the student has passed the test.
Assigning words the teacher cannot define.
Assigning large quantities of words.
Assigning words that students will rarely encounter again.
Teach terms that are central to the unit or theme of study.These are terms that are so important that if the student does not understand them, s/he likely will have difficulty understanding the remainder of the unit.
Teach terms that address key concepts or ideas.While a text chapter may contain 15-20 vocabulary terms, there may be only 4 or 5 that address critical concepts in the chapter -- sometimes only 1 or 2!).
Teach terms that will be used repeatedly throughout the semester.These are foundational concepts upon which a great deal of information will be built on over a long term basis.
http://www.ldonline.org/ld_indepth/teaching_techniques/ellis_clarifying.html
Teaching Vocabulary Directly
• Learning a new meaning for a known word
Possible Sentences
Semantic Word Maps
Teaching Vocabulary Directly
• Learning the meaning for a new word representing a known concept
Levels of Word Knowledge– I have never heard of this word
– I am familiar with this word but am not sure of its meaning
– I know this word and its meaning
Levels of Word Knowledge
Word I have never heard of this word
I’ve heard/read this word, but not sure of what it means
I know this word and its meaning
Definition
inoculate
vaccinate
virus
Teaching Vocabulary Directly
• Learning the meaning of a new word representing a known concept
Word Map
Verbal-Visual Word Association Strategy
Definition – using context clues, dictionary or glossary
Word
Synonym or ExampleAntonym or Non-
example
Personal Clue – may use picture
Word Map*
*Adapted from Catherin Rosenbaum. (2001)“A word map for middle schools: A tool for effective vocabulary instruction.” Journal of Adolescent & Adult Literacy. Sept.
(Suffix, prefix)
(Word using that suffix or prefix)
(Word’s definition) (Picture Clue)
Verbal-Visual Word Association Strategy*
*Hopkins, G. and T. W. Bean. Vocabulary learning with the verbal-visual word association strategy in a Native American Community. Journal of Adolescent & Adult Literacy 42:4, 274 – 281.
Teaching Vocabulary Directly
• Clarifying and enriching the meaning of a known word
Concept Ladder
Flip-a-Chip (Lee Mountain, (2002) “Flip – a – Chip to Build Vocabulary”, Journal
of Adolescent and Adult Literacy. 46:1, 62 – 68.)
Flip – a – Chip to Build Vocabulary*
Give each pair of students a marker and two white poker chips in a plastic bag. Have the students print four syllables on their chips so that with the combinations can flip into four words. ( Ex. “pro” and “re” on one chip, “voke” and “duce” on the other chip. Will make the words provoke, produce, revoke and reduce.)
*Lee Mountain, (2002) “Flip – a – Chip to Build Vocabulary”, Journal of Adolescent and Adult Literacy. 46:1, 62 – 68.
Then have the pair of students write a paragraph with blanks for the words that would be made with their chips. This requires the students to have some deep processing of the words and also would enhance their comprehension of the words. When they are finished, put the paragraph in the bag with the chips and trade bags with another group.Ex. Ms. Jones was angry. She said, “My students ____________ me when they are tardy. They ___________ one excuse after another. I want to _________ the number of tardies, so I’ll ____________ the privileges of any pupil who is late.”
Interesting Vocabulary Sites on the Web
Building a Better Vocabulary (good source for prefixes, suffixes, and root words)
Vocabulary U
Visual Thesaurus
More Interesting Vocabulary Sites on the Web
The Homonym/Homophone Page
Word Study Activities from Words Their Way
Vocabulary Quizzes based on Latin/Greek influences on English Language
Word Savvy
More Interesting Vocabulary Sites on the Web
TV411 site for struggling high school students and adult ed students
Vocabulary Strategies from Just Read Now!
Strategy Toolbox: Vocabulary
Vocabulary Games/ActivitiesWord Jungle
Fake Out
Word Games from FunBrain
Vocabulary Games from Gamequarium
Wrap-Up
• Next Week: Comprehension