"Rote memorization of word lists has never worked. To unleash the power of vocabulary instruction, focus on exploration and engaging word play."
It is best to use specific instructional strategies when teaching vocabulary. Last year we looked at Marzano's six-step process (Marzano, 2004) of effective vocabulary instruction. It involves the following steps:
- Provide a description, explanation, or example of the new term.
- Ask students to restate the description, explanation, or example in their own words.
- Ask students to construct a picture, pictograph, or symbolic representation of the term.
- Engage students periodically in activities that help them add to their knowledge of the terms in their vocabulary notebooks.
- Periodically ask students to discuss the terms with one another.
- Involve students periodically in games that enable them to play with terms.
In the latest issue of Educational Leadership; Padak, Bromley, Rasinski and Newton point out that when young readers encounter texts that contain too many unfamiliar words, their comprehension suffers. They explain that vocabulary knowledge is a key element in reading comprehension. Therefore, in order for students to comprehend fully and learn well, they need regular vocabulary exploration. The article goes on to identify five common misconceptions that often stand in the way of effective vocabulary instruction. To read more, click on the link below:
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