2+Building+Vocabulary

Building Vocabulary (Strategy #2)

Effective vocabulary building occurs when students become involved in lessons, and are allowed to participate in lesson and class discussion by using their own mental creativity to develop and retain vocabulary.

*Students will enhance and develop pronunciation with both teacher and classmates through verbal and visual exercises incorporating a number of methods.
 * Criteria for Building Vocaulary: **
 * Students will employ hands-on techniques and complete games and activities which will aid in vocabulary usage and retention.
 * Teachers will assist students in the development of plurals, short vowels, long vowels, diagraphs, and blends in the process of vocabulary learning by incorporating diverse techniques and strategies into lesson plans.
 * Both students and teachers will utilize technology such as the Mimio and computer software to participate in peer-centered learning and building of vocabulary terms.
 * Students will formulate a weekly chart of new vocabulary words within an online classroom wiki which allows teachers, parents, and peers to view progression of subject matter.
 * Students will be expected to both practice and establish positive attitudes, agreed-upon goals, student participation, and group effort throughout the learning process.

*Completing a six-step process which includes teacher and student commentary, student visual representation, group discussion, games, and activity review are extremely beneficial when introducing new vocabulary terms (Marzano, 2009).
 * Research Findings: **
 * Effective vocabulary instruction puts an emphasis on useful, frequently-seen words; difficult, idiomatic words with more than one meaning; and important, key words that assist students in understanding text material (Literacy Matters, 2008).
 * Developing a good vocabulary helps to ensure that one reaches his or her full potential in education, career relationships, and life. Building vocabulary is a crucial lifelong skill that must be acquired as early-on as possible (Education Atlas, 2009).
 * Repeated substantial encounters with words in conversation, read-alouds, personal reading, discussion groups, or media viewing can lead students to build vocabulary over time. It is vital that teachers give students the proper tools for developing a rich vocabulary. (West Virginia Department of Education, 2010).
 * Understanding vocabulary words in the subject areas of science, math, and social studies is vital to comprehension of subject matter (Sheakoski, 2008).
 * Helping students with learning disabilities successfully deal with new vocabulary by decoding and providing strategies for vocabulary words can empower future learning (Logsdon, 2010).

** Implementation: ** *Students are able to verbally explain a vocabulary word definition, and how this word can be used in a sentence.
 * Teachers effectively communicate individual vocabulary words and definitions to students, and teachers incorporate books and other academic curricula into lessons that include these words.
 * Students use graphic or pictographic representation to communicate their idea of what a particular vocabulary word means or looks like to them using drawings, pictures, and media materials.
 * Teachers aid students in review of previously learned vocabulary words by using comparison activities in which students are able to compare and contrast specific vocabulary words such as likes and opposites.
 * Students discuss vocabulary terms by participating in mini-group discussion in which students communicate with and challenge one another about the meaning of certain words and the impact those words have in their lives.
 * Students use the Mimio board and pen to play games that involve letter building, spelling, matching, and word-picture relationships to challenge the brain and expand knowledge of vocabulary terms.

Tennessee’s Department of Education has devoted a website to the sixth step of Dr. Marzano’s strategies on building vocabulary. Their website, Academic Vocabulary, ( [] ) offers useful examples for Marzano’s six steps for vocabulary building, and features myriad PowerPoint games and activities among other resources for grades K-8 with additional materials for grades 9-10. Supplementary components include word game boards, vocabulary games, and helpful strategies for incorporating Marzano’s steps for vocabulary building into classroom lessons.
 * Additional Resources: **



Really well done Rebecca! Your information is well organized and very easy to follow. Your thorough research and clear presentation of the subject convey your understanding of the strategy. Alison Clayton

Great Job!!! Your research findings are very detailed and thorough. Teachers should lead by example and use vocabulary words throughout the day. The Academic Vocabulary website offers great examples for incorporating Marzano's steps to build vocabulary in the classroom! ~Annie Hoyt