This month we’ll look at the importance of vocabulary. He’s so rambunctious he upset the basket.
Vocabulary words are like a new pairs of shoes; we need to break them in. It’s the job of the adult to help kids become comfortable with new or unusual pertinent, use-again words that occur in their reading. Try these previewing ideas:
- Post new essential I’ll-use-you-again-and-again words on a word wall or a list for different subjects that can grow as new (pertinent ) words arise in their reading. Keep a chapter selection to no more than 6 words. Go back to them every few days to review, discuss and use them appropriately. Play words games like Guess My Word with them once you have collected a dozen or more and have written definitions (More information coming in future blogs). Let your imagination wander.
- If you wish, save unique words, ones that may not reappear, on a separate list. (Sometimes it’s fun to save words that appeal to our tongue or our curiosity!)
- Take the time to build student vocabulary notebooks. They can be organized into topic sections/alphabetical for ease in relocating words after their initial use has passed.
- Have online and hard copies of age-appropriate dictionaries and several thesaurus available. If possible, invest in The Synonym Finder by Rodale Press. Having a variety of resources available may excite students to want to study words.