Vocabulary has always been a struggle for me, in school and now in college. Simply because of how we learned vocabulary in school. Here is a list of words, here is a dictionary, use it in a sentence and at the end of the week we will have a test. It was more a pain then a learning experience. This chapter had alot of information that stood out to me and I feel would have benefited me greatly in school. One method it discussed was the Vocabulary self awareness chart and putting students in charge of their learning and recording it. I feel that it is gauged more towards the student and can give the teacher an accurate idea of what students know and do not know. I also like how the text pointed out to actually USE a word wall and not just post one. I have been in many classes that a word wall is just posted with common sight words and it would never change or be added to or anything. Students knew the words were there and knew some of the words, but they never really referenced it during the class time. I feel that maybe having a new word wall per unit or reading would benefit a class greatly. Also to spend time during class reviewing the wall and the meaning of the words on it, and to let students add words to the wall and have a say in what goes up. I really liked how the chapter divided up different subjects and types of instruction or ideas you can use with each one and mathematics is the section that stood out to me. I never learned math terms and if i did it was based on memorization and that was it. My math classes rarely had vocabulary definitions we just had numerical definitions or equations. They talk about providing students with the opportunity to use what they have learned with vocabulary, but rarely do students get the chance to do so in class. It also talks about providing students with real world examples and comparisons with the words they are learning. I feel that vocabulary needs to be an experience and not just a bunch of words students learn just because they have to. Students need the chance to use their words and to have multiple exposures and experiences. We learned in another literacy class that students need exposures up to 7 times for new terms to stick and words should only be given 3-4 at a times depending on the level. This assures the student will learn the term and have a firm understanding of the term given.
Supercalifragilisticepialidocius :) Of course you can say it backwards, which is Suoicodilaipxecitsiligarfilacrepus! I found this song fitting hahaha
http://youtu.be/4b-Z0SSyUcw
I agree with how you said students need to experience the new vocabulary words and not just memorize them. I am still seeing this with my own kids. My daughter is sent a list of about thirty math vocabulary words. She is supposed to study them, but she, usually, brings them home a day or two before the test and tries to memorize them, which never works. I also remember from another class that the interactions with the words can be accomplished quickly and repetitively within class.
ReplyDeleteI have also seen the word walls being displayed and not used. There are many ways students can engage in games using these word walls, so they would be used and enjoyed. These walls can be effective tools if used correctly.