good advice from Cathy-Dee

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good advice from Cathy-Dee
By pjm

HI
I have a fun way to teach that vocabulary and the kids might actually retain it....? Hopefully?

Any way I teach special needs kids and they love doing this so it may work as well with yours. here is how I introduce
my plan of vocabulary words to the kids complete with the rules.
1. the peace sign - you know the v sign? is our signal for vocabulary words...use it when ever one of the kids uses a vocabulary word correctly out loud in class
2. When anyone uses a vocabulary word correctly during the day either in speaking or reading immediately raise the v sign into the air...the kids soon catch

on that they are to do this. When they use the vocabulary word they are to put a marble in the marble jar. one for each vocabulary word used. If they use a vocabulary word or more in writing I put 4 v words on the paper at the top so the kids can add 4 marbles to the jar. (one for each word used - 4 was just an example)

3. as one of your daily jobs have a child write the daily vocabulary word on a piece of paper and decorate it....have a vocabulary bulletin board for the child to add the word to...the kids love this part! and it would look good to your VP! When 20 words have accumulated I give a quiz on the words...I use a matching test because that works best with my kids but you could do multiple choice or what ever....

4. When the marble jar is full celebrate with a junk food party. That is a party where each child is required to bring his/her favorite junk food into class to pig out on. they must bring enough junk for the whole class....so a bag of chips or a bag of candy bars what ever just so there is one for all.

my kids love doing this...and they do use the vocabulary words correctly....now at the beginning of the year I practally make a fool out of myself doing the v in the air and acting out some of the vocabulary words...I really ham it up....and at times the kids will even volunteer to act out a vocab word...it is a lot of fun....maybe you'll have an opportunity to try this? It sure beats putting the kids to sleep listening to those tapes! AUGH!