vocab instruction

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Home : 2006 : May : 28

vocab instruction
By imalith

I have found that working with a graphic organizer helps students. We do a mind map of what the word is, what words are similar and what the word is not. The is not really helps the kids understand the word. For the "is
not" section it has to be something that could confuse someone or is an opposite.

My students usually work together on these graphic organizers. We start with their own thoughts on small scratch paper and then break out the big butcher paper and jigsaw the lesson so each group does one word and presents their ideas. They have to quiz the rest of the class to ensure they

taught the word clearly.

This kind of word discussion generates a deeper understanding of the word and therefore more likely to know the word, rather than memorizing a definition they never clearly understood to begin with. I also end up with deeper insights of what may have confused kids about the word. My kids come up with incredible ideas for examples and "is nots"