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 upperelementary grades and continue throughout
schooling.
* Baker, S. D. C. Simmons, and E. J. Kameenui. Vocabulary Acquisition:
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_clarifyin
g.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.).
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.
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.
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!).
Assigning words the teacher cannot define.
Assigning large quantities of words.
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.
Assigning words that students will rarely encounter
again.
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
inoculate
vaccinate
virus
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
Teaching Vocabulary Directly
• Learning the meaning of a new word
representing a known concept
Word Map
Verbal-Visual Word Association Strategy
Word Map*
Definition – using context clues,
dictionary or glossary
Word
Synonym or Example
Antonym or Nonexample
Personal Clue –
may use picture
*Adapted from Catherin Rosenbaum. (2001)“A word map for middle schools: A tool for
effective vocabulary instruction.” Journal of Adolescent & Adult Literacy. Sept.
Verbal-Visual Word Association Strategy*
(Suffix, prefix)
(Word using that suffix or
prefix)
(Word’s definition)
(Picture Clue)
*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/Activities
Word Jungle
Fake Out
Word Games from FunBrain
Vocabulary Games from Gamequarium
Wrap-Up
• Next Week:
Comprehension