August 22, 2011Marie Walsh, Ed. D.Literacy Specialist

Why should we provide direct instruction in vocabulary?

• Turn and Talk

• Jot down 3 reasons.• Think.

DO NOW:

Name

C r o s s w o r d

• How do you teach vocabulary?• How do you learn vocabulary?• How were you taught vocabulary?

Guidi

Q u e s t i o n sg

Dat

R e s e a r c h

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Why Study Vocabulary?

“It is clear that a large and rich vocabulary is the hallmark of an educated individual.”

Beck & McKeowan, 2002

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“There is a strong relationship between vocabulary, intelligence, comprehension and future income.” Marzano, Pickering, and Pollock, 2001

Why Study Vocabulary?

“Vocabulary knowledge is among the best predictors of reading achievement.”

Daneman, 1991

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Why Study Vocabulary?

“Reading is the single most important factor in increased word knowledge.”

Anderson & Nagy, 1991; Baumann & Kameenui, 1991

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HOW to Learn Vocabulary?

The Power of Minutes

• The average elementary student learns roughly _______words a year. Many of the new words are learned through reading (Nagy, 1988).

• Students who most need vocabulary instruction are frequently those who read the slowest (Fountas and Pinnell, 2001).

• Disadvantaged students who do not perform well in school often have underdeveloped vocabularies (Biemiller and Slonim, 2001).

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• The average elementary student learns roughly 3,000 words a year. Many of the new words are learned through reading (Nagy, 1988).

• Students who most need vocabulary instruction are frequently those who read the slowest (Fountas and Pinnell, 2001).

• Disadvantaged students who do not perform well in school often have underdeveloped vocabularies (Biemiller and Slonim, 2001).

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Let’s Break it Down

• Elementary children acquire and/or develop about 3,000 new words per year which comes to about 8 words each day.

• Let’s say, an elementary student only acquires 2,000 new words per year. That means . . . by the time they’re in 8th grade, they are behind by 8,000 words which translates to more than two grade levels.

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More words read builds a wide vocabulary base

Increased comprehension leadsto wider knowledge-basewhich deepens cognition

Frequent reading buildsconfidence and positivereading self-concept

The Comprehension Cycle for Proficient Readers

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Fewer words read builds a limited vocabulary base

Limited comprehension leadsto limited knowledge

which inhibits cognition

Lack of comprehension causes frustration and

impacts motivation

The Comprehension Cycle for Struggling Readers

And Beyond 12th Grade…

“There is a strong relationship between vocabulary, intelligence, comprehension of new information, and future income.”

Marzano, Pickering, and Pollock, 2001

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HOW to Learn Vocabulary?

• What about the dictionary?

• Approximately of sentences students wrote to demonstrate their knowledge of a new word, used the new words incorrectly.

• Dictionaries often use vague language and do not explain how the word is different from other similar words.

(Scott & Nagy 1989, 1997, Vacca & Vacca, 1996)

Students must already have some knowledge of the word for the definition to make sense.

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• Approximately 60% of sentences students wrote to demonstrate their knowledge of a new word, used the new words incorrectly.

• Dictionaries often use vague language and do not explain how the word is different from other similar words.

(Scott & Nagy 1989, 1997, Vacca & Vacca, 1996)

Students must already have some knowledge of the word for the definition to make sense.

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Turn and Talk

As a reader, what do you do when you come to an unfamiliar word?

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Reading PassagePhysics Textbook

“So far, the circuits we have considered include batteries or generators that contribute only their emfs to a circuit. In reality, however, such devices also add some resistance.”

Cutnell and JohnsonPhysics, 5th Edition

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Resources to figure out a new word.

• Dictionary

• Glossary

• Context clues

• Ask the expert

• Find pictures

• Look for known roots, prefixes, and suffixes

• Use the index to find where the word is listed and read it in other contexts

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Turn and Talk

• Think of a word and its definition that you will NEVER forget.

• What makes that word “stick” in your brain?

• Did you learn your word in school?

• Did you hear, see, or read your word?Region 10 Education Service Center

Value of Kinesthetic Involvement

“The brain literally changes at the chemical level when our mind and/or body experiences something new… When we understand the key role the body plays in learning and encourage our students to explore the possibilities of movement, it can only enhance their learning.”

Alana Morris/Vocabulary Unplugged

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• What are other brain based strategies to enhance learning vocabulary? Think, Jot, Turn and Talk

Brain Based Checklist

RelevantSensoryKinestheticSocialNovelConnectedChallengingInquiry BasedEmotional

W o r dalls

1. Word Walls• Be selective (about 5 to 10 a week)• Practice regularly with a variety of review

activities• Handy and easily accessible• Alphabetical

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Fr

S q u a r e sy

M o d e lr

2. Frayer Model

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Definition

(Barton, M.L., Heidema, C., & Jordan, D. 2002)

Visual Representation; characteristics

Examples Personal association or Non-example

Vocabulary Term

Vocabulary Squares

Janet Allen – Inside Words

F AS e m a n t i c

a at lu yr se i

s

3. Semantic Feature Analysis

Janet Allen – Inside Words

TE n t r y

ip

J o u r n a le

4. Triple Entry Journal

Pa

W o r dts

5. Word Parts

“Knowing some common prefixes and suffixes (affixes), base words, and root words can help students learn the meanings of many new words"

(Armbruster, Lehr, & Osborn, 2001).

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http://quizlet.com/subject/bio-prefixes/ http://wps.ablongman.com/long_licklider_vocabulary_2/0,6658,283083-,00.html

So

W o r dts

http://www.eduplace.com/kids/sv/books/content/wordsort/?g=6#grade6

6. Word Sorts

6. Word Sorts

Assignment

• Write a lesson plan that incorporates one of the following:– Word Wall – Frayer Model – Vocabulary Squares– Semantic Feature– Triple Entry Journal– Word Parts– Word Sorts

Vocabulary Websites

• http://www.diigo.com/user/walshmc/vocabulary

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