There are multiple ways to develop students’ knowledge of vocabulary by having them engage vocabulary words in different ways. Some suggestions for developing that type of engagement are:
When planning a vocabulary activity, consider some of the following activities:
1. How should students write when using vocabulary words?
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- Writing is a powerful tool for practicing using vocabulary. However, when students write using the words, they need to contextualize their writing, so it demonstrates the knowledge of the word. For example, if the vocabulary word is saccharine, there is a difference in students writing a non-contextualize sentence with the word, I like that it is saccharine, compared to a contextualized sentence, My drink is bitter and I need to add something saccharine to sweeten it.
2. Should I provide students with definitions for each vocabulary word?
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- Learning vocabulary words requires students to say, hear, and read them multiple times. The more times you can have students interact with the words, the more likely they are to retain the words’ meanings. Having students lookup a vocabulary word’s meaning is a great way for them to interact with the word, and you can even have them lookup the word using multiple sources, including paper-based dictionaries, online dictionaries, and textbook glossaries. That way, they can compare the different definitions for the word.
3. How many vocabulary words should I teach each week?
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- The number of vocabulary words that should be assigned each week depends on different factors, such as the age of the students, their background knowledge, and the purpose for learning the new words. A general rule is that five vocabulary words works well for elementary schools and up to 10 words for middle and high school students. When selecting the number of words for your students, remember to use your professional judgement.
- Write using the vocabulary words