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Home : 2004 : Dec : 14

    My Strategies
    By JulieP
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    First of all, I explained to my third graders at the beginning of the year that I would be using several words throughout the year that they may not know. I told them to ask me, and I would explain. Sorry, but I don't believe in dumbing down my vocabulary for my students.
    Second, we illustrate our unknown words. On a piece of paper, students write the word at the top, draw a picture of the word, then write a sentence using the word at the bottom. Especially for the ESL students, this helps create a mental picture of the word, and recognition rate increases.
    I also use the vocabulary words with our basal stories. Then, throughout the week, I try to use those words in class.
    Finally, I am in Texas, so we are preparing for the TAKS. I have taught my students how to use context clues to figure out words. Most of them now notice commas in the sentence with the underlined word, and can pick out the definition within the sentence. I give my students lots of opportunity to learn and use new words, but I make it seem very easy. Using synonyms for big words helps a lot. too.

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