Vocabulary is at the heart of learning a language. Here are some ideas for making vocabulary more comprehensible to our students.
The first step is to acknowledge that each content area comes with its own set of vocabulary. Understand that your students might be hearing/reading this vocabulary for the first time. Have a list of vocab that you know is important to the topic. Write it down, keep it posted to refer back to over the course of your teaching. Be prepared with examples, diagrams, pictures, etc. anything that will help connect that vocabulary to the student.
Build a schema, which simply means gradually introduce the new topic with prior knowledge. Ask questions of your group to activate some memories that you can then use to bridge into your topic.
Plan a shared experience like doing an experiment together or do a craft that can be applicable to introducing your topic.
Display your academic vocabulary in an easy to see space in your room. Refer back to it, take the time to review the words.
Get your class moving with vocab aerobics for your physical learners! Get your kids up and acting out your words with an agreed upon movement. This is especially fun with younger grades.
Thanks to South Pointe and Eagle Crest for these great examples!
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