No-Tech Ways to Teach and Assess Vocabulary in Core Subjects

Are you searching for meaningful ways to teach, review, and assess vocabulary in the core subjects?  Then I have what you're looking for in this post!

4-Square Vocabulary Template
I like to assign the Definition and Graphic part of the 4-square vocabulary for homework prior to the instruction of those concepts.  This front-loads the the information so students are reading to participate in class discussions.

Read more about how I use this technique by clicking here.

Review Games
After all the vocabulary has been thoroughly taught, we play review games from my Vocabulary Review Games Packet.

Other fun games to play with vocabulary:

Pictionary 

Find Someone Who:  

This technique uses a page with squares similar to bingo. In each square is a definition. The students walk around with each other and find someone who knows the right answer. That person writes the correct answer in the box with the definition and signs their name. Spend 5-10 minutes at the end for students to share the correct responses out loud.


Word Splash
Write a vocabulary word on the board and give students 10-60 seconds to write everything they can think of relating to that word.  At the end of the time, have students move to another student's paper and repeat the process with one exception:  They may not repeat write anything already written on the paper.



Vocabulary Assessments:
The template I use to assess vocabulary knowledge includes the following activities:

Fill-in-the-blank
Write the definition in your own words
Give an example/non-example
Use the word in a sentence

Read more about how I use vocabulary assessments in this post.

I made a packet for the templates for the 4-square and vocabulary test. Click here to pick up a copy of my Vocabulary Instruction and Assessment Packet.

What do you use to teach, review, and assess vocabulary?  I'd love to hear your ideas!

Vocabulary Test Template

Want a quick way to assess your students' vocabulary knowledge?  Well, look no further than this editable Vocabulary test template.

I have used this template for many years, and for different grade levels.  It is just as useful for 4th-Graders as it is for 7th-Graders.

The template includes the following activities:

Fill-in-the-blank
Write the definition in your own words
Give an example/non-example
Use the word in a sentence

I left the words and definitions in the template for your reference. You will just need to change them.

What kind of vocabulary assessments do you rely on?  I'd love to hear about your go-to resources!

Vocabulary Instruction and Assessment

One thing I've placed an emphasis on, regardless of whether I'm teaching elementary or middle school, is vocabulary.  I'm a believer in the benefits of vocabulary instruction in all subjects, not just Language Arts.

For example, my 7th Grade Life Science students often have 4-square vocabulary for homework prior to the instruction of those concepts.

They are responsible for filling in the definition and picture/graphic with the help of the glossary and pictures in their textbook. I don't like for them to use the Internet or dictionaries for this because there are usually too many different definitions and pictures out there on the World Wide Web.  The textbook streamlines that process.  I supply them with the example and non-example during class and they fill them in. This way, they've already been exposed to the key words twice before I even explicitly teach it in context.

After all the vocabulary has been thoroughly taught, we play review games from my Vocabulary Review Games Packet.

Finally, we take an assessment.  Half of it asks them to use the information from the 4-square examples, and half of it is matching the word to the definition.

I made a packet for the templates for the 4-square and vocabulary test. Click here to pick up a copy of my Vocabulary Instruction and Assessment Packet.

Do you do use explicit vocabulary instruction and review in all subjects?  I'd love to learn some tricks from you!

Constitution Day Activities

Our district requires us to celebrate Constitution Day and do activities related to it.  I actually enjoy it.  For one thing, The Constitution is one of the most important documents our country has ever written.  For another, we will be discussing this document in depth in Virginia Studies.  If I take the time to front load the vocabulary and basic understanding of the Preamble, it makes studying the document's history go much more smoothly.

First, we read We the Kids: The Preamble to The Constitution of the United States by David Catrow.  It's a really cool book that uses kid-friendly images and language to explain the Preamble.

There's also a video with the same title as the book that can be used as a refresher later in the year.  It has the exact information and language in it that the book uses, but it's just a nice visual reminder for the students.

We use a graphic organizer to break down the robust vocabulary of the Preamble.

We also do a writing activity that incorporates the vocabulary and talks about the students' personal freedoms.

I have an extension activity set up for students needing a challenge.  These students work in small groups to take a sentence or phrase, rewrite it in their own words and illustrate the main idea.

My complete lesson plans for Constitution Day include:
~The Virginia Reading and Writing Standards and objectives associated with the activity
~Mentor text/video suggestion
~Prewriting activity suggestions (anchor chart, graphic organizer)
~Graphic organizer of robust vocabulary from the Preamble
~Journal prompt
~Challenge/Extension activity

If you'd like to pick up a full copy, you can do so by clicking here.

Math Vocabulary Station

Since I am revisiting how my Guided Math stations work this year, I noticed how my Math Vocabulary Station needed tweaking.  One thing all my students need practice with is identifying the operation words in word problems.  So I created a little game to help them practice identifying addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division words.

Students take turns drawing cards with key words on them and identifying which operation they apply to.  If they get the right answer, they can advance their game piece on the board.

This editable PowerPoint includes a vocabulary game and word cards to help students recognize words related to:
~Subtraction
~Addition
~Multiplication
~Division
It includes:
~A game board
~8-10 words for each concept
~An answer key for self-checking

You can pick up a copy by clicking here.

How do you teach vocabulary in your math class?  I'd love to hear your ideas!

Vocabulary Test Template

This year, I've made an extra effort to make my vocabulary instruction rich and meaningful.  I've started having students preview new chapters/units in their Science and Virginia Studies textbooks for all the bold, italic, and highlighted words (see the example below).

 

Students list any "cloudy" (heard it before, but not sure what it means) and "don't know" (never seen or heard of it) words on their whiteboards.  I then write the words on sentence strips and put them on our vocabulary word wall.

 

Over the course of the unit or chapter, we complete vocabulary/word study activities with these words.  After the unit test is complete and all words have been thoroughly practiced, I give a vocabulary test.  Below is a template that I use and just change the words in the word bank. 

 

 

 

The template includes the following activities:

Fill-in-the-blank

Write the definition in your own words

Give an example/non-example

Use the word in a sentence

 

I left the words and definitions in the template for your reference.  You will just need to change them.

 

You can pick up a free copy by clicking here.

 

 

Spelling City for Differentiation?

This year, our school is both Title I and a focus school.  So that means that we need to keep flawless records of differentiation methods that cover all the state standards and meet the needs of all students in math and reading.  Then I came across an email reminder that Spelling City links state standards to their activities, making it easier to find differentiation activities. 

I played around with the free activities they offer and found several that link up nicely with Virginia's Language Arts standards.  You can access the activities that match your state's standards by clicking here.  Below is an example of what the screen will look like.  The blue words take you to the activities when you click on them.

I have played around with Spelling City before, but not for a couple of years, and I've never purchased the premium membership.  I've also never put in spelling or vocabulary lists.  I'm wondering if it's worth the extra money.

Have you used Spelling City before?  If so, have you purchased the membership or just used the free services?  Do you think the paid membership is worth it? 

I'm looking for new ways to use this site for differentiation.  I'd love some advice!

Polka Dot Word of the Day

I've been working on improving literacy in Math, Science, and Social Studies.  I've learned that looking up words in the dictionary rarely, if ever, seems to truly teach students the meaning of the word.  Using prescribed vocabulary lists doesn't seem to do much, either.

I thought about all the words in our Social Studies, Science, and Math textbooks that students just breezed by but didn't stop to think about the meaning.  The students need to KNOW these words and be able to use them to be successful in these classes.  What can I do to increase the knowledge of these words?

This polka dot Word of the Day PowerPoint is customizable so you can choose what things you will have your students focus on.  The labels I've included:
1. Textbook definition
2. Textbook sentence
3. Synonym
4. Antonym
5. Non-Example
6. Dictionary guide words
7. Plural
8. Plural Possessive
9. Illustration
10. Prefix
11. Suffix
12. Root Word
13. Dictionary Part of Speech

You can pick up a FREE copy by clicking here.

I don't plan to have students complete this in one day.  It will most likely take several days, especially at the beginning of the year.  Some of the labels will not apply to every word, either.  For example, if the word is "venture", there won't be a root word, prefix or suffix. 

I do plan to create a classroom job (Word Master) so a student can go around to help/check their peers each day.  I always check this student's work first so I can assure it is correct and the understanding of the word is accurate.  This is a great chance for me to conference and assist ESL or other students that are developing language skills.

Getting on Board the Daily 5 Bus

So many teachers have the goal of integrating Daily 5 into their classrooms this year.  While I don't follow it to the letter, I feel like I could be making better use of it in my centers.  I use centers HEAVILY during Language Arts time, so I'm excited to do this.

I came up with an activity to help students "collect" interesting words while independently reading. The top words are then added to a class "word wall." It combines the Daily 5 goals of "Expand Vocabulary/Word Work," "Accuracy" and "Read to Self."

I'm trying to make money for a classroom project, so this one is only $1.00 if you'd like to pick it up.
http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Word-Work-Daily-5-Activity-for-Centers.