Introducing new words can be tricky. You don't want you students to come out of your lesson looking like this...
Here are a few ideas that I find helpful and engaging. I built this routine into my weekly Skills Block and definitely saw good growth over the course of the year.
1. What does the word look like?
Just a brief discussion of the visual aspect of the word. What other words look like this one?
- Letter Sort
- Students sit in a circle
- Pass out vocabulary word cards (you can only give out one set of the word cards or make enough so that each student has a card, this means that more than one student will have the same word)
- Play a letter song, chant a poem, or just call out the visual prompt that you are teaching
- Students will place their word card in the center of the circle if their word fits the prompt
- Chart these words
- Resource: Words Their Way, Jack Hartmann's Vowel Song
2. What does the word sound like?
Say the word. Chant the word (in a fun way! Say it high, low, loud, soft, etc.) What other words does it sound like?
3. What does this word remind you of?
Keep this one brief. Choose a few students to give you a quick reminder and jot it down for them to see. (Word Map, Anchor Chart, etc.)
- Text Sort
- Read each word to the class
- Have them decide which story element it relates to (character, setting, problem, solution)
- Sort into content related categories
4. Related Vocabulary Resources
More Vocabulary Activities
Hope this helps some of you out there!
