Vocabulary Development Teaching Strategies

1. Read-Alouds

1.1. reading plays

1.2. using audio books in class

1.3. watching film version of a book

2. Word Wheels

2.1. Word Wheel projects for teaching tense

2.2. as flash card style activity where the definition is hidden

2.3. word wheels for class-form of words

3. Vocabulary Journals

3.1. Interactive journals

3.2. Journals where students analyze reading, ask any questions about content, and especially highlight any terms they don't understand so that they can individually research and I, the teacher, can give feedback for clarification

4. Word Lists

4.1. High Frequency Word Lists

4.1.1. Online availablility

4.2. Content Words

4.2.1. Text book vocabulary/glossary

4.2.2. highlighting important terms and familiarizing students with them

4.2.2.1. posting them on walls

4.2.2.2. having students create posters/wall art

4.2.2.3. Give students vocabulary list and having them discuss possible meanings

5. Total Physical Response (TPR)

5.1. pairing action with words

5.2. Playing games with students that are word-based

5.2.1. Simon Says (beginner)

5.2.2. Charades (intermediate)

6. Teaching Students How to Use Dictionary Effectively

6.1. Scavenger hunts for words in dictionaries and terms

6.2. Pair with vocabulary journal activity so that students can look up words they may not understand

6.3. Also teach students how to use thesaurus so they can see synonyms and antonyms to help their understanding