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SEPTEMBER 30 - EAL Strategy Pre-teaching Vocabulary

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SEPTEMBER 30 - EAL Strategy Pre-teaching Vocabulary

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HMH Vocabulary Cards for each unit, Reading and Vocabulary Slides

Discuss how to obtain the vocabulary for other subjects but we can teach them strategies for pre-teaching

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Researcher E.D. Hirsch once noted the importance of teaching literacy in schools: "It is now well accepted that the chief cause of the achievement gap between socioeconomic groups is a language gap." Adopting effective strategies for teaching vocabulary is one way to help level the playing field for all of your students.

Teaching vocabulary: Strategies to enhance language learning

1. Put yourself in your students' shoes

According to Steven Stahl's publication on vocabulary learning, a person's understanding of various vocabulary words likely fits into four categories:

1. I have never seen that word before.

2. I don't know what it means, but I have heard of it.

3. The context helps me know if it has something to do with _______.

4. I understand and use it.

Stahl uses an example cited from Atlantic Monthly so that adult learners can remember what it feels like to be in that vocabulary acquisition process. Consider the word vicissitude in the following context:

"America's permanent election campaign, together with other aspects of American electoral politics, has one crucial consequence, little noticed but vitally important for the functioning of American democracy. Quite simply, the American electoral system places politicians in a highly vulnerable position. Individually and collectively they are more vulnerable, more of the time, to the vicissitudes of electoral politics than are the politicians of any other democratic country. Because they are more vulnerable, they devote more of their time to electioneering, and their conduct in office is more continuously governed by electoral considerations."

Which category from the list above do you fit in for the word vicissitude? Why? Can you gain any meaning from the context? What measures would need to be taken for you to fully understand and include the word in your writing and speech?

Vicissitude is described in the dictionary as "a change of circumstances or fortune, typically one that is unwelcome or unpleasant." Writing the definition three times, finding it in a word puzzle, or matching words to definitions won't help students truly own the word. Let's look at a better way.

2. Make direct vocabulary instruction fun and engaging

When introducing a new term, teachers can:

Supply illustrations, descriptions, examples, and anecdotes: The keyword here is and. Students need to interact with words in many different ways: hear it, see it, act it out. Take the word jocular, meaning characterized by joking, humor, or playfulness. Students could pantomime laughing uncontrollably. In the earlier example, finding other texts where vicissitude is used and comparing it to synonyms and antonyms could be helpful. Or students might find the words used in famous quotes, poetry, or in the news.

Consider ways to transition between grammatical forms: Explicitly teach roots and affixes of words. Think of connections to easily confused words related to the one at hand, and try to clear up any confusion your students might have. In our example, you'd review the root "vic" and find that it means change, substitute, and deputy; this would be a good start when looking for connections. Discussing the adjective form, vicissitudinary, can also help students connect affixes and possible uses of the word.

Have students develop their own connections, illustrations, and examples: In the final step of direct instruction, students need to personalize the information and capture experiences to develop a growing understanding of the contexts in which words can be used. For example, if a student heard the word wrangle used in one of their favorite movies, have them sketch the scene and describe why wrangle was chosen by the scriptwriters. For our term, I wondered if vicissitude had anything to do with victim. The prefix vic certainly helped me make this connection, but I can also see a loose connection based on the definitions of the two words. This simple inquiry could help me better understand and use the term vicissitude.

One graphic organizer that can help with direct vocabulary instruction is the Frayer model. This model asks students to define the word, give characteristics of the word, list examples and non-examples of the word, and, in some cases, create an illustration to accompany the word.

Download our version of the Frayer Square Chart.

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4 Effective Strategies for Teaching Vocabulary

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Discover 4 effective strategies for teaching vocabularly. explicit, direct instruction of vocabulary can empower students for long-term academic success.

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 OCTOBER 1 - Improving Literacy Outcomes (SIP GOAL)

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 OCTOBER 1 - Improving Literacy Outcomes (SIP GOAL)

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Addressing literacy barriers and providing interventions for students needing support.

Facilitator: Literacy Committee

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OCTOBER 8 - Classroom Management and Student Engagement 

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OCTOBER 8 - Classroom Management and Student Engagement 

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Promoting positive behavior and effective management strategies to engage boys and other underperforming groups.

Facilitator: SSS Department to lead

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OCTOBER 8 - Student Engagement in Creative Curriculum and EY Language Learning

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OCTOBER 8 - Student Engagement in Creative Curriculum and EY Language Learning

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PD session Fostering Engagement in Kindergarten Language Learning

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OCTOBER 14 - SIP-The Journey to Excellence  

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OCTOBER 14 - SIP-The Journey to Excellence  

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School Improvement Plan 24-25