Language

This is a place for ideas on language. =__Parts of Speech Chant__= A noun is the name of anything: an idea, person, place, or thing allegiance, student, school, or swing. Instead of nouns, the pronouns sit: he, you, me, they, we, it An adjective describes a noun: What kind? How many? Which one? color, size, shape, texture, amount, many, small, sticky, round, or brown. Verbs tell of something being done: to read, write, count, jump or run. How, where, or when the adverbs tell: slowly, near, now, or well Prepositions show relationships of nouns to other words: of, for, with, at, to, from, in, by, on, around, about, over, beyond, against, across, under Conjuctions join words and groups of words, you bet! and, or, but, so, for, nor, yet Interjections show suprise: Oh! Wow! Sweet! How wise! Three little words you often see, the articles: a, an, the -8th grade teachers from Sunset Ridge Middle

Jeopardy Powerpoint- This can be changed to match your own review.

Lots of Vocabulary Instructional Ideas on [|this website.] and [|here]. [|This one] is great too.

These are the notes we have made on our impressions on the Common Core Standards.

Vocabulary Strategies:

//**Word Questioning-**//[[image:eeynn7m_New-Sheet.jpg]]
Comments and Ideas: Good to use for science. It touches on all of Bloom's levels, but you may only be able to do this with a few words.

**//Word Charts-//**
Have students keep a chart using the following columns as they read a text. This helps them define their own word needs. Students will first guess its meaning (you can use this to access their instructional needs). it || I Sort of know it || I Don't know it at all || Comments and Ideas: This could be a page in their journal. Try adding a column for definitions for to write after the words are discussed. This could be class chart on butcher paper with post-its! They can add post-its as they learn how/time/forms a word is used.
 * I Know

//**Linear arrays-**//
Study word relationships with these linear arrays. Use a story to understand the words and major events in a story. Comments and ideas: Great resource for teaching a text or opposites. Also called a Semantic Differential Scale. :) Use with prefixes that change meaning. Could analyze plot, climax, resolution, etc. with this. Show cause and effect. Will some have difficulty with this?

//**Word Sorts-**//
Supply students with vocabulary words on cards. These words will come from a text you are reading. They will organize cards in order to predict what will happen. As you read, have students revise their lists and reorder words to better help them retell the story.

Comments and ideas: Incorporate sentence from the text where the word is found to help look at context. Add pictures to help place the word. Try making the cards into flashcards. Some fun ways to do word sorts: morphemes, spelling patterns, chronological order, semantic differential scale, etc. Could adopt this as a whole class activity (each student has a card, sort accordingly).

**//Prefix/Suffix Study-//**
Give students a prefix or suffix. They have 2-3 minutes to write down as many words using this word part as they can. Bonus--Have them use these in a story or piece of writing (or pull words from other content areas).

Comments and ideas: Give them a root word, then have them define the new words. A good book to include in this is __The Comprehensive Literacy Curriculum__ from Supris West a Cambria Group. Try turning this into a group game/activity. Use this for "made up" words that use the prefix/suffix correctly. Try using the Grammar Punk program, which incorporates this. Include a picture component (for them to draw) to help remember the definition of the prefix/suffix.

**//ABC books (or Alphaboxes)-//**
Keep a list of vocabulary words using the ABCs (in a list or with a box for each letter). Try this with words describing self, then words from the text/unit. Great for synonyms.

Comments and ideas: Try this with historical fiction unit vocabulary, or try adding more than one word per letter. This allows ownership for the students to be in charge of their own list. Another great way to reach kids who are "picture smart." Make into ABC books, like Dr. Seuss' style. Try using this as a review. Students look for words beyond the obvious vocabulary words.
 * A || N ||
 * B || O ||
 * C || P ||
 * D || Q ||
 * E || R ||
 * F || S ||
 * G || T ||
 * H || U ||
 * I || V ||
 * J || W ||
 * K || X ||
 * L || Y ||
 * M || Z ||

**//Synetic Comparisons-//**
Compare words in new and creative ways. IE. A (word) is like a (unrelated word) because. ..

Comments and ideas: Have students draw pictures of the words, or have them stand up to demonstrate the word. Have your class come up with a way to remember each word. Try using the thesaurus in this activity. Add a short writing assignment to expand on this idea. Teach simile with this as well. Lots of fun with word choice.

//**Discussion Center Web-**//
Put the word in the middle of a web with related terms surrounding it.

Comments and Ideas: Use words that come from a story, use to build a foundation for informative text. Introduce a thesaurus with this. Try doing this with multiple meanings for one word instead. Works with roots as well (cede-recede, supercede, intercede). This helps to define background knowledge on words or to make connections.

**//Visual Representations-//**
Draw a visual representation with the word inside or using pictures that give a clue to its meaning. or draw **Illustrated Opposites.**


 * Haughty vs humble**

Comments and ideas: Try to do this with commonly confused words. Can this transfer to all vocabulary? Find new meanings with pictures? Use with homonyms.

**//Biopoem-//**
Use a biographical poem format to write about your word:

word 1 (part 1) 4 traits to describe word a relative of. . . who feels. . . who needs. . . who fears. . . who would like to see. . . resident of. . . word 2 (part 2)

Comments and ideas: Great thesaurus activity. Fun to use with poetry or to start their own biographies.

**//Illustrated Vocabulary-//**
Have the students fill out a 3x5 card or piece of paper with all the following components, post these in the room. Pull words from their reading or grade level text/word list.

=WORD= Prefix: Meaning (Prefix concept drawing) Root: Meaning (Root concept drawing) Suffix: Meaning (Suffix concept drawing)

Word definition

Comments and ideas: Reverse this with several words using one morpheme. Try "word clues:" fold sheet in 1/2, word/picture in front, definition inside. Helpful with spelling. May want to make the drawings optional for students who can't think as strongly in abstract ways.

**//Vocabulary Cards-//**
Have the students fill out a 3x5 card with all the following things, then put those on a "word wall" or bulletin board.

Prefix (in black)/ Author's Definition/ Suffix (in blue) Meaning/ Part of speech/ Meaning

ROOT WORD (in red)

3 words that use same root/ Language of origin/ Quickdraw of concept/definition

Comments and ideas: Good reminder of words learned earlier in the year. Do this with a word of the day that is pulled from a unit of study. Do this as a class: each kid gets one, then put them all on the board.

**//STAR Method-//**
This is a philosophy to teaching vocabulary, not really a trick to use.

//Select a word// //Teach// //Activate// //Revisit//
 * Choose appropriate word
 * Focus on essentials to understand word
 * Draw a story/text map
 * Look for more words
 * Access prior knowledge
 * Use definition, context, and usage to teach words
 * What do you want students to do?
 * Use writing assignments so students use words often
 * Connect words to those they already know
 * Act out/demonstrate the meaning of the word
 * Use extra activities to go over the words again

Comments and ideas: Use the vocabulary words regularly in assignments.

**//Word Games-//**
Play games to experiment with new words in fun and safe environments.

Games that could work: Scrabble Boggle Apples to Apples Matching Games Crosswords Guessing Games