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Use vocab words to tell a story - "animate" with pic collage

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Did you know you can use screen recording on Pic Collage to create animated movies? Learn how to turn Pic Collage into an interactive whiteboard with the new screen recording feature on iOS 11. Use this Pic Collage app-smashing hack for students to explain math solutions, create digital stories, and make short animations for a variety of projects in all subject areas!

How to Turn on and Use Screen Recording in iOS 11

For this hack, you will need either Pic Collage or Pic Collage Kids. You will also need iPads with iOS 11 and later installed. If you have not yet activated the screen recording feature, head to settings to do that first.

In settings, you must turn on the screen recorder in the Control Center and add it to the control panel.

Swipe up from the bottom to open the control center. Touch the record button and wait for it to countdown from 3. When you see a red bar at the top, the iPad is recording your screen. Anything you do on the iPad - including WITHIN apps - will record until you tell it to stop.

If you want the screen recording to also record audio, hold down the recording button then touch the microphone. Now any actions on the screen as well as audio from the iPad and input into the iPad microphone will record!

The recorder cannot record your hand or fingers - which will come in handy for our hack - and at this time, it does not show a curser when things are touched.

Use Screen Recording with Pic Collage

With the recording on, open Pic Collage and choose Free Style collage. Set up the items on the canvas to move around. Students can set up their scene with Emojis, backgrounds, images, clips and text. Move the items around the screen to "animate" them. To remove them from the screen, drag them to the trash can.

You can also use the Doodle tool to draw.

Anything done on the canvas will be recorded - and because the recording does not show your hand or finger - it looks magic! You can create animated math problems with moving manipulatives like in the example below:

Hint: If you need multiple of the same image, double touch it and choose Duplicate.

Get creative with Pic Collage Screen Recording

You can think of creative ways to utilize the trash can and undo buttons to make it look like text boxes are flying out of thin air. In this example, the scene was set up first with the text and both Emojis.

I deleted the text and Emoji by dragging them to the trashcan. However, once I was recording my screen, I touched the "undo" arrow so it looks like the text and Emoji flew out on their own

Stop Recording, Save and Edit.

When finished their recording, exit Pic Collage by pressing the home button or saving and exiting, then touch the red recording bar. A pop up will ask if you are finished - say "Yes" if so. The video is now saved to your camera roll.

Since the recording may include junky parts like open and closing the app, you can trim the video RIGHT in the camera roll. Open the camera app and then the video. Touch the edit button and drag the bars to trim away any part you do not want in the finished video.

Combine Scenes in the Clips App

If you are creating animations on Pic Collage that involve multiple scenes I recommend using the square canvas in Pic Collage so students can edit their clips together easily in the Apple Clips app. Create screen recordings for each individual clip on Pic Collage and save them separate in the camera roll. Go into the camera roll and trim each clip.

Next open the Clips app and touch the plus to start a new project. Add each edited Pic Collage clip in order by pressing the plus and selecting the video clip. You will need to hold the red button for the duration of each video recording to add it into the Apple Clip project. Save the video to the camera roll.

More Ideas for Screen Recording with iOS 11.

This Pic Collage and iOS Screen Recording hack can be applied to a ton of creation apps like Doodle Buddy and Popplet or note-taking apps like Notability. Students could create and combine several animations together in Clips too for a personalized project.

If you use Google Slides on the iPad, you can also record slideshows with audio! Take it even further by creating a Google Slides "flipbook" then screen record to animate the flipbook with an audio description!

What other ideas do you have for this hack? Definitely, tag me on social media to share any other Pic Collage and iOS 11 Screen Recording projects!

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HOW TO USE SCREEN RECORDING ON PIC COLLAGE IN THE CLASSROOM - Erintegration

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Did you know you can use screen recording on Pic Collage to create animated movies? Learn how to turn Pic Collage into an interactive whiteboard with the new screen recording feature on iOS 11. Use this Pic Collage app-smashing hack for students to explain math solutions, create digital stories, and make short animations for a variety of projects in all subject areas!

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Students use Pic Collage to create the game board

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Learn how to use the fabulous iPad app Pic Collage to create game boards or play games right on the app. Plus get access to a free game board template to try now!

Having students create games is a fun way to review concepts. Students can create games to share with other students in a math center or to review their spelling words or even as an exercise in critical thinking. While I think using paper and having students draw and create a hard copy of the game is definitely worthwhile, sometimes it makes sense to save paper and time by using Pic Collage to do the heavy lifting too.

Plus you can use Pic Collage to play pre-made games!

Using Pic Collage to Create a Game Board.

To create a game board on Pic Collage, students are essentially making the path and the spaces of the game board. At this time there is not a way to roll dice in the app so you will still need dice or cards or a spinner ( maybe even a fidget spinner?).

We use the text feature to create our spaces. Touch the T to open the text box, then type what you want the space to say. The most important part is to use the droplet button to add a background the text box to give it a shape.

You can resize boxes to suggest a path. You can also use the new doodle tool to draw a path and place the boxes over it.

I have students save the completed game, then upload the saved image in a new Pic Collage Canvas when we go to play the games. This way they can set it as the background and lock it down during play.

Playing Student-Created Games with Pic Collage

You can use Emojis, Stickers, a selfie that has been clipped or even items found in the image search and clipped as game pieces. If you are using images like selfies or searched images, be sure to save them to your collected folder for future use. Learn more about the collected folder and how it can save time in Pic Collage her e.

The critical thinking comes in because students will need to test their game boards before they can play. They need to make sure that all spaces have a chance of being landed on and that the game is fair.

The best thing about creating a digital game board is it can be saved and used again, and it can be shared through Google Drive, Air Drop, or Seesaw for other students to access. If you have students make "generic" spaces, the games can be used with a variety of materials and task cards, too. For the game sample below, students could use cards and move across the board if they answered the task card correctly. They could use selfies as markers (actual students not pictured).

Heidi Samuelson on Swamp Frogs had students use another method to create their game boards by searching and clipping images to make each space. If you want to save time, check out Kami Butterfield's post on editing ready-made game boards.

Playing Pre-Made Games on Pic Collage

As much as I love apps on the iPad, many of the single-use game ones have ads or are blocked by districts. There are some games I would love my students to have access to - especially puzzle and solitaire games that are not the best for a school iPad due to in-app purchases or ads. So I created a set of classic puzzle games to use on Pic Collage.

These pre-made game boards are housed in Google Drive so students can download the game board right to their device, set it in Pic Collage, then use Emojis to play.

Some of the games do require dice or a partner. This is clearly marked on each template along with the directions to play.

Using these classic game boards is a money saver because you can share them with all of the students in your class instead of buying 28 wooden boards and chips. These classic game boards are perfect for students who have finished their work, are taking a brain break or are warming up before a lesson.

We learned about some of these games on a tour of a historic home in our area on a field trip. The game Shut the Box, for example, would have been played by George Washington. I love that these old games can get a fresh life on the iPad, and I can expose students to the history too.

You can download the FREE Emoji Hanging Man digital game board below if you are a subscriber to Erintegration by clicking here to head to my Free Resource Library and entering the password.

If you do not have the password, you must subscribe to receive the password.

Get the FREE Emoji Hanging Man Digital Game Board by Signing Up Below

Using Games on Pic Collage

I love to include game boards on my countdown activities for use with Pic Collage. I made a themed set for counting down to Christmas Break and another set for counting down to Summer Break.

Pic Collage is the perfect app for quick games because it is intuitive and simple for students to use. Therefore it does not take a lot of time to have a 3-5 minute game or puzzle break. You could have students create brainteasers, mazes, logic puzzles, and integrate dice, cards, counters and other hands-on manipulatives.

You can even have students take a picture of a brainteaser or game board and solve or play it on Pic Collage using the Doodle tool to draw or using Emojis for counters. Many math programs come with games for you to copy and distribute to students. Save time and paper by sharing these with students digitally to pull up in Pic Collage.

Have you used Pic Collage to create or play games on the iPad? Share your pictures on social media and tag Erintegration!

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CREATING AND PLAYING GAMES ON PIC COLLAGE - Erintegration

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Learn how to use the fabulous iPad app Pic Collage to create game boards or play games right on the app. Plus get access to a free game board template to try now! Having students create games is a fun way to review concepts.

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Use Markup feature in Camera or Pic Collage

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Who among us, both old and young, has not entertained themselves with the many filters on SnapChat? I tend to gravitate more toward the ones that lighten my face and erase the fine lines and wrinkles...I digress...but the universal interest of SnapChat, particularly in young folks, can be used to engage students in new ways across content areas without even using the SnapChat app. While some educators use the SnapChat app to create BookSnaps, others aren't comfortable using the app or their district has blocked the use of it.

BookSnaps is quickly gaining interest in many educators' classrooms. The concept is to encourage more interaction with content in books the students are reading. For very young students, pictures can be taken of their favorite story parts and characters. The student can use the photo markup toolbox in the photos app to highlight areas of interest or focus. In photos, tap the parallel lines (see green arrow below).

From there, tap the three dots on lower right and then tap the toolbox markup. See below. In markup, students can annotate with drawing and text.

In introducing the concept of a BookSnap, it is helpful to students if you model it. Here is mine. I love The Book Whisperer by Donalyn Miller. I took a picture of my favorite passage in the book, used Markup in photos to make a circle around the passage and add text. Then, I uploaded it to PicCollage where I added stickers.

A kindergarten student chose Pete the Cat Rocking in my School Shoes to create a BookSnap in Pic Collage.

The student chose Pete the Cat playing on the playground because this was his favorite part of the book, and his favorite part of the day. He wrote that he liked recess and he used the doodle tool in Pic Collage to circle the words that showed Pete was playing.

A variety of creation apps can be used to create a BookSnap. Here is one done in Book Creator app:

The student took a picture of the front cover of the book and then a picture of her favorite page. She is too young to write a sentence so she dictated it in the app. I added the text for the picture since you can't hear it. In this BookSnap, the child resonated with the character Vashti because she doesn't think she is good at drawing, just like Vashti in The Dot. While these are very basic BookSnaps created by young children, older students can definitely create more elaborate BookSnaps.

Using BookSnaps, students can make text to world, text to text, and text to self connections. They can identify the main idea, parts of speech, synonyms, etc...and reflect about the content they are learning. Older students can collaborate on a book study and create BookSnaps to share what they learned. In Book Creator, multiple snaps can be created to represent several passages in one book, or to create a book of BookSnaps reflecting a child's learning across several books.

So...snap to it! BookSnaps are fun!

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Who among us, both old and young, has not entertained themselves with the many filters on SnapChat? I tend to gravitate more toward the ones that lighten my face and erase the fine lines and wrinkles...I digress...but the universal interest of SnapChat, particularly in young folks, can be used to engage students in new ways...

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Use paper 53 to draw the setting of the story - submit work in an album

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Recreate the setting and characters in a virtual reality world - teachers will need to set up an account

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We care about your students' privacy. CoSpaces Edu takes student privacy very seriously and is COPPA and FERPA-compliant.

We have several measures in place to make sure that the data that you and your students store in CoSpaces Edu is always kept safe.

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CoSpaces Edu for kid-friendly 3D creation and coding

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Boost your kids' learning experience by letting them invent, build and code their own creations. Runs on mobile, tablet and desktop, including Chromebooks.

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Choose an app and create a character collage

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Retell the key details of the text in 30 seconds in chatterpix

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Use PicCollage, PowerPoint or Paper53

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Use ScratchJr to create vocabulary review games - take a screen recording of the project and share in a media album

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Living things and Scratch Jr tutorial for iPad. For full details and curriculum links subscribe to the number 1 resource for teachers and students using iPads in the classroom.

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Use the Bloxels game to develop a character from the story

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Use the bloxels game to create the setting

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Choose a topic from the informational reading - find a book on Epic! and create a Shadow Puppets presentation for it

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Shadow Puppet Edu provides a simple way to take photos and videos in your camera roll (for example, photos students take of their work or creations) and combine them with annotations and voice. This can be a powerful way for students to capture and share their thinking to document their learning.

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Write a story that includes appropriate use of emjois

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Create visual notes that include sketched images and key words that highlight the main idea and key details in a passage
You might create a story map

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Take a screenrecording of the project and share in a schoology media album

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Scratch Jr App as a form of digital storytelling. This content is in iPad Monthly, a newsletter for teachers.

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Use PowerPoint to write and illustrate, Toontastic 3D or Lego Stop Action

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That features the character and previews the story - use PicCollage or Paper 53

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Choose two characters from the story and write a text message thread back and forth - use Pic Collage, or animate it with Clips

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by Kasey Bell- different templates

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(updated on 11-7-17)

"...at its core, differentiated instruction means addressing ways in which students vary as learners." - Carol Ann Tomlinson

What Are Learning Menus?

IT'S ALL ABOUT CHOICE! Learning menus (aka choice boards) are a form of differentiated learning that gives students a menu or choice of learning activities. Learning menus and choice boards can be created in a variety of styles and mediums. They've been around for a long time and originated in a static, paper format. But with digital tools, we can bring the menus to life with interactivity and creation. Menus can be a simple list, a tic-tac-toe or bingo-style game, or get as creative and intricate as you like. Check out my Pinterest board for ideas.

Learning Menus Can Be Used with Any Age Group

I have found that menus and choice boards tend to be more popular among elementary teachers, but I used them in my middle school classroom, and now I use them in professional learning workshops with adults. Any grade level can use learning menus!

Learning Menus Can Be Used in Any Subject Area

Since learning menus are so flexible, they can easily be created and adapted for just about any subject area. So no excuses! Any teacher who is willing to try can make use of this student-centered strategy.

Are Learning Menus Hyperdocs the Same Thing?

No, but they could be part of a Hyperdoc assignment. I love Hyperdocs! But these two are not one in the same. Keep in mind the definition of learning menus stated above. It is simply a menu of choices from which students can choose. Student choice is the big idea behind learning menus and choice boards.

A Hyperdoc is a complete packaged assignment that also meets some additional criteria. A Hyperdoc doesn't have to include choice, but it could. To learn more about Hyperdocs, visit their site or read the AMAZING book by Lisa Highfill, Sarah Landis, and Kelly Hilton.

Creating a Tic-Tac-Toe Learning Menu in Google Docs

One easy way to dip your toes into the learning menu water is a Tic-Tac-Toe menu. A Tic-Tac-Toe can be used for anything from short activities to more long-term projects, both assessment FOR learning (formative) and assessment OF learning (summative).

Below is an example of a Novel Unit Tic-Tac-Toe menu that I created as a summative project. It was created in Google Docs, nothing fancy, just a table and some color. Depending on how you want to use, you can add links, rubrics, images, video and more. (Click here to use my blank tic-tac-toe template.)
CLICK HERE to use the Novel Study Tic-Tac-Toe template. On mobile? CLICK HERE to make a copy.
Learning Menu Design

Remember when you are creating a learning menu to align it with your learning goals! First, I use the middle square as my non-negotiable, the one activity that I want every student to complete. This could be reading an article, watching a video, or in this case; every student will write a summary and add it to a collaborative Google Slide deck where they will also add links to their other projects. Everything in one place!

Some teachers also make the middle square a free space where students can propose their own ideas to demonstrate their learning. LOVE THIS IDEA!

I had some students who would try to find the easiest or fastest way to complete the tasks. But if you pay attention to the learning design, you can design it so that it gives choice and flexible learning paths, not just an easy completion grade.

I use the color to guide the learning design. Because I use the middle square as a non-negotiable, I control how they make the tic-tac-toe just a little bit more. Every student will do the middle square and one from the blue and one from the yellow. In this summative example, students are mostly creating, but in the example below, you will see how it can also work for activities that guide the learning.

Below is a professional learning example that I designed for teaching Google Chrome. As a trainer, I typically have very mixed groups in my training sessions (multiple grade levels, subject areas, and tech savviness). I usually address general skills, and apps and extensions that are applicable across all grade levels and subject areas as a whole group.

Then I move into an activity like the Chrome PD Tic-Tac-Toe learning menu to allow teachers to dig deeper into their own subject areas and grade levels AND move at a pace that is comfortable for their level and learning style.
CLICK HERE to use my Chrome PD Tic-Tac-Toe template. On mobile? CLICK HERE to make a copy of the template.
Other Types of Learning Menus

As I said, a tic-tac-toe is just one type of menu. It happens to be a favorite of mine because they are easy to design and are not too overwhelming. But I have used many other types of menus, and I have been curating ideas on this Learning Menu Pinterest Board.

Digital Menu for Student Creation with Google Slides by Tommy Spall

Below is a Google Slide example of a learning menu that takes on the look of a restaurant menu from my friend, Tommy Spall. Follow him @TommySpall. (You can thank me later!) Click here to make a copy of Tommy's template that includes linked slides to lots of Googley projects and room for you to make it your own. (If you are on mobile and having trouble with the template link, try this make a copy link.)

Professional Development BINGO Board by Amber Teamann and Melinda Miller

Another option is to make it a full out BINGO board, like in this example from my friend Amber Teamann and her collaborator Melinda Miller. (Follow them at @8Amber8 and @MMiller7571, and yes, you will thank me for this one, too!)

Amber and Melinda are both elementary school principals. They issued this BINGO PD Challenge to her teachers over the summer, and I thought it might inspire you with some other options for choice and challenges in your classroom or professional learning. You can learn more details about PD Bingo in Amber's blog post.

Using G Suite to Create Learning Menus

The possibilities are truly endless! Consider all the ways you could use G Suite to create learning menus and the extended activities and links. Try thinking of the ways you could create menus using these G Suite tools:

Google Docs

Google Slides

Google Drawings

Google Sheets

Google My Maps

Google Sites

What do you think? Please share your ideas and examples in the comments below!

Ready to Become a Google Certified Trainer?

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Interactive Learning Menus (Choice Boards) Using Google Docs

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I love learning menus, and it is one of my favorite ways to incorporate student choice and to differentiate learning. And with digital tools like G Suite for Education, it's super easy to make menus interactive, digital, and more dynamic! Digital Differentiation offers teachers and students many ways to reach all learners.

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Alice Keeler

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By Shaelynn Farnsworth and Alice Keeler
It is through language that we learn. Whether reading a novel in English class or studying the digestive system in science; students read, view, listen, and consume content through the comprehension of words. From grades K-12, students learn about 3,000 to 4,000 words a year. Vocabulary is an essential component of all classrooms. With that being said, why do we continue to utilize poor vocabulary practices? It's time to reexamine how and what is being taught in the area of vocabulary instruction and update the practices that no longer serve our students.

There are 2 important research-grounded assumptions about vocabulary that all educators should be aware of. First, word learning is incremental - not like an on-off switch, instead, it is more like a dimmer switch that keeps strengthening what we know. Meaningful exposures build depth and breadth of our word knowledge. Second, students learn many more words that we can teach them. Vocabulary learning happens incidentally from all types of sources: books, media, conversations, television, social media, and music all contribute to the growing vocabulary of a child (Baker, Simmons, & Kame'enui). Knowing these two things, instruction must be multifaceted and from many angles.

5 Vocabulary Practices that Need Updating

1. Word Searches

2. Look up Definition, Write a Sentence, Draw a Picture

3. Vocabulary Lists of 20+ Random Words

4. Give Students Vocabulary List on Monday and Test on Friday

5. Teacher Selected Vocabulary Words

"several investigators have dealt with research about what classroom vocabulary instruction is like, and each has concluded that instruction was wanting (Blachowicz & Fischer, 2006; Walsh, 2003). Blachowicz, Fisher, Ogle, and Watt'-Taffe's (2006) summary about classroom vocabulary practices documents 'less than robust classroom practice'(p. 524)"
From Beck, I. L., McKeown, M. G., & Kucan, L. (2013). Bringing words to life: Robust vocabulary instruction. Guilford Press.

1. Word Search

Make connections with words rather than make words connect.

The problem with word searches and other similar tasks that mask as vocabulary instruction is what Hattie, Fisher, and Frey designate as students making a "passing acquaintance with a wide range of words," meaning they lack the cognitive demands and application to actually know a word. Vocabulary instruction must include both depth and transfer; these things are not found in a typical word search. While there are many tasks that could be listed as an alternative here because of their cognitive complexity and authentic use of words in relevant ways to students ( Alice's Meme Template) few methods compare to wide reading by students. When students read more, have a choice in what they read, and engage in the authentic contextualization of vocabulary through discussions and writing vocabulary increases and the transfer happens. Volume matters, if you want to increase student vocabulary, have students read, write, and discuss, ( Visible Learning in Literacy.)

Let's be honest, some students enjoy doing word searches, but let's not call it quality learning or an assignment. Some students may enjoy making their own word search. Try my Google Sheets Wordsearch template or check out Flippity

2. Look up the Definition, Write a Sentence, and Draw a Picture

"asking students to look up words in the dictionary and use them in a sentence is a sterotypic example of what students find uninteresting in school." Beck, McKeown, Kucan (2013)

This common practice can be seen in classrooms across the country. I, too, often had students complete this task before digging deeper into evidenced-based practices in vocabulary and word study. And while this method is similar to the Frayer Model, the essential parts of choosing the right vocabulary words to target, as well as focused transfer and application often leads to surface learning of words. Simply copying a word from the dictionary is not enough for depth and transfer. Dictionary definitions are not written for students, they are written succinctly because of space constraints and lack kid-friendly language. Taking a cue from Alice, reimagine the Frayer model by adding small adjustments. Instead of having students use the Frayer Model collaboratively, providing justifications, feedback, etc. Dialogistic learning not only increases engagement through meaningful discussion but also helps student co-construct understanding of vocabulary.

Using Google Slides, peer and teacher feedback is relatively simple. My husband is an English teacher and we have a rule that you're "not allowed to turn something in without a peer feedback comment on it." Teaching kids to give high quality feedback results in a critical thinking task for students and an opportunity to have multiple interactions with a concept. My preference is that when responding to feedback to NOT edit their original work but rather duplicate the slide and make updates. Using the template below, after duplicating the slide, the student would click on "Layout" in the toolbar and change the layout to the "Updated." This shows that the student responded to feedback.

Template

alicekeeler.com/frayermodel

3. Vocabulary Lists of 20+ Random Words

Ineffective vocabulary instruction is often attributed to the wrong words on the "list" instead of the task students do with them. Targeting the right words for vocabulary instruction is often the place that many educators neglect but is the easiest to fix. According to the work of Isabel Beck, educators should focus on Tier 2 words, and at the high school level, a blend between Tier 2 and 3 words. One easy way to determine priority words is "Label or Concept/Topic". For example, if students were reading by Lois Lowry, the word "tunic" would be considered a label and one that would be quickly defined by the teacher in the context of the text. On the other hand, the word "Utopia" is conceptual and essential for students to understand to grasps the meaning of the text. It is also a high-frequency word that students will encounter throughout their lifetime and in multiple disciplines and content areas. Intentional focus on Tier 2 words, along with word parts (Morphemes) helps students recognize patterns and make meaning of words based on their suffix, prefix, or base words through analysis. A popular method often seen in the primary grades is through word sorts. Word sorts have students physically manipulate vocabulary based on desired categories. Below is an example created with Google Draw .

4. Give Students Vocabulary List on Monday and Test on Friday

To truly know a word is dependent upon 3 things: nature of the word, the context in which appears, and the purpose for knowing a word. (Blachowicz, Fisher). There is no magic number of exposures or one task that guarantees the understanding of vocabulary. Vocabulary should be comprehensive and multifaceted. It is through continuous review and authentic discourse in which students consume and create communication employing the focused vocabulary in which both depth and transfer occur. The vocabulary targeted in instruction should not be a one and done. Vocabulary transfer in which students can successfully engage, generalize, and apply their understanding of words is preferred. Students should regularly revisit vocabulary through word walls, through their independent reading and writing, classroom discussions and referenced in direct instruction by the teacher. Check out Shaelynn's for alternatives for the traditional vocabulary test.

5. Teacher Selected Vocabulary Words

"students need to develop an interest in and awareness of words in order to adequately build their vocabulary repertoires." Beck, McKeown, Kucan (2013)

In the primary grades, students are unlocking the power of written text; bridging the gap between oral language, sounds, symbols representing those sounds and word meaning. While research suggests that wide reading is one way to increase vocabulary knowledge of students, this claim does not account for those struggling or unmotivated readers who cannot read widely because of decoding issues (Beck, McKeown, and Kucan). Educators cannot rely on students' independent reading alone to increase vocabulary. Instead, we must foster an environment that encourages all students to be curious about words that are unfamiliar. Rich vocabulary instruction creates enthusiastic learners that recognize word learning outside of their school life is the goal. Along with independent reading, modeling and read-alouds by the teacher, class discussions are extremely important in developing student ownership of vocabulary (Cunningham). A five-minute partner talk, ex. Can an enthusiastic student also be a rebel? to analyze, justify, and support thinking about the meaning of the vocabulary helps to solidify understanding and also encourages student ownership of words. Another activity to consider that would mix both teacher selected vocabulary and student chosen words are concept mapping. In essence, students would generate a list collaboratively of words based on a concept or topic that is being studied. From there, students would map connections between the list of words, discovering meanings of those words that are unfamiliar, as well as justifying why groups of words belong together and how they are connected. This activity not only reinforces word learning, but also collaboration, critical thinking, and is student-centered. Below is an example created with Google Draw. We crowdsourced words and phrases around "Assessment" via Twitter for this example, thank you to everyone who added to the list! Template Here Example of the Crowd-sourced one on Assessment.

A rich vocabulary is not only an essential quality of an educated individual but unlocks content understanding for our students and provides them with future possibilities in life. Vocabulary is learned in the classroom when purposeful reading, writing, listening, and speaking takes place. It is also a part of every discipline and every grade. Educators can maximize student achievement by reexamining their current vocabulary practices and spend 10 to 15 minutes a day using some of the evidenced-based practices listed above.

Links to Articles and Research
2010 A Review of the Current Research on Vocabulary Instruction Bringing Words to Life, Second Edition: Robust Vocabulary Instruction The Nature of Vocabulary Acquisition Best Practice in Literacy Instruction Visible Learning for Literacy Words Their Way The Fountas and Pinnell Literacy Continuum
Blog Posts from Rasinski and Shanahan

Links to Shaelynn's Vocabulary Posts
7 Alternatives to Traditional Vocabulary Tests Technofy Your Vocabulary Instruction
From the Twittersphere

Using vocab (followed by appositives) in content-specific or cross curricular projects students create to show mastery of many standards!

- Marisa Thompson (@MarisaEThompson) February 2, 2018

Practice & quizzes that look like this. NO context & totally impractical to memorize lists of synonyms & antonyms. pic.twitter.com/Iu6nwtaNX7

- Meghan Johann (@JohannMundy) February 2, 2018

Pretty please no copying definition = doesn't work @alicekeeler @shfarnsworth https://t.co/eKv9A5GM3p

- Ms Mcmichael (@bluebutterflysm) February 2, 2018

Iron Chef Slides - Vocab Edition!@jcorippo @MrPrincipalRock #gvusdshares #goldenvalleyway pic.twitter.com/sQInNu4bnM

- Kevin Feramisco (@theteachingjedi) February 2, 2018

We have Ss create a slide for a specific latin root/prefix/sufrix that connects to current content. By end if yr, Ss have digital collection. pic.twitter.com/Bx2ZUF5K8x

- Karen Conner (@KConner1213) February 3, 2018

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By Shaelynn Farnsworth and Alice Keeler It is through language that we learn. Whether reading a novel in English class or studying the digestive system in science; students read, view, listen, and consume content through the comprehension of words. From grades K-12, students learn about 3,000 to 4,000 words a year.