Vocabulary Strategies
Word Wheels
Word wheels are a popular strategy for teaching and promoting the use of vocabulary. They can be used in a variety of ways - from simply listing definitions and synonyms, to charting out antonyms, word families, connotations/associations, translations and cognates, and model sentences. Check out how these twelve LPS teachers are using Word Wheels in their classrooms to support ELLs.
7 - Step Vocabulary Process
While it can be time-consuming, teachers have found the 7-Step Vocabulary Process to be an effective way to pre-teach vocabulary before beginning a new unit, lesson, or text. Here is an overview of the process, which of course can be adapted based on the needs of the students, the teacher, or the lesson itself:
1. The teacher introduces the word by saying it aloud and asking the students to repeat it 3 times.
2. The teacher states and/or writes the word in the context in which it is used in the text.
3. The teacher provides a clear dictionary-style definition to clarify the meaning of the word.
4. The teacher explains the meaning with more student-friendly definitions or synonyms.
5. The teacher provides an overview of the spelling of the word, how it is used grammatically, and any multiple meanings or connotations it may have.
6. The students engage in a variety of activities (based on teacher direction) to practice applying the word and using it correctly in speech and writing.
7. The teacher concludes by reminding students how and when to use the word.
Here are 16 examples of how LPS teachers ranging from kindergarten to high school have used this strategy in their classroom. There are also two corresponding PowerPoints that were used in the process.
1. The teacher introduces the word by saying it aloud and asking the students to repeat it 3 times.
2. The teacher states and/or writes the word in the context in which it is used in the text.
3. The teacher provides a clear dictionary-style definition to clarify the meaning of the word.
4. The teacher explains the meaning with more student-friendly definitions or synonyms.
5. The teacher provides an overview of the spelling of the word, how it is used grammatically, and any multiple meanings or connotations it may have.
6. The students engage in a variety of activities (based on teacher direction) to practice applying the word and using it correctly in speech and writing.
7. The teacher concludes by reminding students how and when to use the word.
Here are 16 examples of how LPS teachers ranging from kindergarten to high school have used this strategy in their classroom. There are also two corresponding PowerPoints that were used in the process.
Lexical Array
Lexical arrays help students identify synonyms of words while understanding that synonyms often have unique connotations, and can sometimes present a different degree or level of intensity of the word (e.g. the differences between the words "difficult," "challenging," "arduous," and "painful", which may be listed as synonyms but wouldn't necessarily all be used in one particular context). These three teachers all found the use of lexical arrays to be effective in their classrooms:
Vocabulary Roundtable
Like the Write Around strategy described on the Writing and Discussion page, the Vocabulary Roundtable is adaptable for a variety of lesson objectives and learning activities. Essentially, students work in groups to practice using or newly learned vocabulary or expanding their understanding of particular words and their contextual meaning. The Roundtable works like a cycle, with a student beginning with a set of materials (a handout, a poster, post-it notes, etc.) and responding to or engaging with it independently before passing it off to the next student who adds additional input, expands on what the previous student wrote, or corrects/revises the input of a previous student. LPS teachers ranging from kindergarten to high school have found this activity useful in their classroom: