vocabulary

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vocabulary
By S. Brown

I think those ideas are great and have used some of them successfully too. Here are a few more. I play a concentration game with words and definitions. I put the words and definitions on separate index cards as we do new
words. I add magnetic tape to both sides of card so that it can stick to my chalk board. ( I have a colleague who uses a peg board she made to hang her cards and flip them over. You can also try a large pocket chart.) Then I set up my cards in a coodinate grid with letters along the top and numbers down the side. Students take turns calling our coordinates (another skill to review and reinforce)

like A-4 and E-7. They try to find the matches. Sometimes I have them work in teams. As we turn over words before a student calls out the second set of coordinates I'll ask the class, "what definition are we looking for?" or if the card turned over is a defintion I ask, " What word would that be?" This is always a great deal of fun.

Word-Pictures
I have students create a picture for a word and then use it in a sentence that shows the same meaning.

Crossword Puzzles
Give students grid paper and have them work by themselves or with a partner to create their own puzzle with the vocabulary words. Then later copy them and have others in the class try to complete them. This is one of those activities that works because children can take it to their own level. Some students love to think of interesting clues for the new words.

Rap songs
Using words and definitions in a rap. Teach it to the class.

Enjoy!