Posted on Thu, Jun 28, 2012
Sara is one of my favorite YA authors-not only because her husband is an English teacher so they are quite the literary couple- but just because her books speak to my students who need to read about a protagonist with the same torrent of emotions as they have who have to struggle and make poor decisions to ultimately learn from their mistakes. Her characters are so REAL and her accurate portrayals come from her sparse yet lovely and sophisticated prose.
Plus, Sara is just a really awesome person who shares her own struggles as a writer on her blog (which I find quite impressive as she’s so humble, yet her books are so great!).
I think her video will really speak to your students about the need to learn words!
Questions:
Do you too love Sara Zarr or have other favorite YA authors-please share!
Do you have relatives that are still mocking your use of vocabulary, even as an adult-feel free to vent here!
Common Core Standards:
Language Standard 3. Apply knowledge of language to understand how language functions in different contexts.
Language Standard 5. Demonstrate understanding of word relationships and nuances in word meaning.
Related Posts:
Maggie Stiefvater interview
Ally Condie interview
Heather Brewer interview
ASKing and Jackie Kessler interview
Posted on Thu, Jun 21, 2012
My students really love to color, and I think they would spend all day making the image pretty if they could. I want to do this activity more next year, but requiring students to label the image first with phrases that incorporate vocabulary words describing the scene. Only after they have “earned” their coloring privileges can they begin to break out the colored pencils-and considering I’m only allowing 10 minutes for the assignment, I think the coloring part becomes homework they actually want to do (and perhaps while coloring, they can think of more phrases to add).
Doing this activity throughout the year also might be fun-back to school scenes, fall/Halloween themes, winter themes etc. could make it unique. Do you have any favorite sites you use for coloring pages? Do you have other ways you incorporate art into the English classroom? Please share!
Common Core:
Writing Standard 2. Write informative/explanatory texts through the effective selection, organization, and analysis of content.
Writing Standard 3. Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events
Writing Standard 10. Write routinely over extended time frames and shorter time frames for a range of tasks, purposes, and audiences.
Language Standard 6. Acquire and use accurately a range of general academic and domain-specific words and phrases; demonstrate independence in gathering vocabulary knowledge
Related Posts:
Virtual Museum Travel Activity
Design a Car Vocabulary Activity
Word for That Vocabulary Activity
Posted on Thu, Jun 14, 2012
I never tire of playing Oranges to Oranges, and as this post has been the most popular post to date on Vocab Gal, I think there are a few other teachers like me out there!
This vocabulary edition has such great benefits as students are constantly reiterating their vocabulary and have to use the definition of the vocabulary word to support or negate each player’s connection. Having played this game all year with teachers from Florida (hi Olympia!), South Carolina (hi Dutch Fork!) and Ohio (hi Harrison!), teachers have suggested some awesome alternative ways to play.
I particularly like playing with an open hand, so that each player plays his red card openly and justifies why his/her answer best matches the vocabulary word’s definition. This dialogue forces all the players to ingeminate the vocabulary word and also have a longer conversation about the word in question. When I was the one to select the winning red card, my answer actually changed because of the justification one player gave over the justification over my original winning card.
Check out the directions in Mattels Apples to Apples for many alternative ways to play Oranges to Oranges, and keep having fun with vocabulary! Extra bonus: playing this game not only helps with several Language Common Core Standards, it also meets many Speaking & Listening standards!
Common Core Standards:
Speaking & Listening Standard 1. Prepare for and participate effectively in a range of conversations and collaborations
Speaking & Listening Standard 3. Evaluate a speaker’s point of view, reasoning, and use of evidence and rhetoric.
Speaking & Listening Standard 4. Present information, findings, and supporting evidence such that listeners can follow
Speaking & Listening Standard 6. Adapt speech to a variety of contexts and communicative tasks
Language Standard 1. Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English grammar and usage when writing or speaking.
Language Standard 3. Apply knowledge of language to understand how language functions in different contexts.Language Standard 4. Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown words
Language Standard 5. Demonstrate understanding of word relationships and nuances in word meaning.
Language Standard 6. Acquire and use accurately a range of general academic and domain-specific words and phrases; demonstrate independence in gathering vocabulary knowledge
Related Posts:
Scattergories
Memory
Mother May I?
Posted on Thu, Jun 07, 2012
Chaos and laughter will ensue if you try this kinesthetic exercise, and I guarantee that your students or children will learn at least two vocabulary words fully –and upwards of 15 words in about 10-15 minutes of play. I hope you can get the last laugh!
Kinesthetic Fun Steps:
-
Assign each student/child a different vocabulary word 1 min
-
Have each student/child quickly learn the definition to his/her word 1 min
-
Have students/children form one large circle so they are all side by side[2] 1 min
-
Start with the first student/child and have him/her loudly say his/her vocabulary word along with a quick motion for the word (if the word is exhilarated, s/he could wave hands in the air while shouting “exhilarated!”) 15 sec
-
After they've performed the action while saying the word, have the rest of the group repeat the word and motion together (the circle together repeats “Exhilarated!” while their hands wave) 15 sec
-
Have the next child in the circle quickly, without much thought, say his/her word along with a simple motion that suggests the definition. 15 sec
-
Have the circle repeat the word and motion together 15 sec
-
Repeat until every student/child has given his/her word and motion and the group has repeated every word and motion 5 min
-
Go around the circle one more time, having everyone repeat their word and motion and then the group repeating the word and motion (Exhilarated!{hands wave}, Exhilarated!{all hands wave}, Opulent!{fingers rub together like counting bills} Opulent! {all fingers rub together}) 2 min
-
Now the fun part! One person must say his/her word and motion, then someone else’s. That person must repeat his/her word and motion, then someone else’s. The trick is to remember other people’s words and motions so you can AS FAST AS POSSIBLE do another’s word and motion after being called. Remaining time (7 min or more)
Example Kinesthetic Vocabulary Practice:
-
Seth says “Exhilarated!” and waves his hands in air, then cries “Opulent!” and rubs his fingers together.
-
Sue (whose word was opulent) says “Opulent!”, rubs her fingers together then says “Unkempt” and runs her fingers through her hair.
-
George (whose word was unkempt) says “Unkempt!” runs his fingers through his hair and then pauses, pauses, can’t think, can’t think….and has to sit down (on the floor, in the middle of the circle) because he wasn’t quick enough to remember someone else’s word/motion.
-
The person to the left of Sue must start, saying his/her word and motion first, then calling on someone else…and the game continues until someone else can’t remember a word and motion fast enough.
Caveats:
-
No one can repeat the word/motion of the person who just called them (aka Sue couldn’t have repeated Seth’s word/motion for “Exhilarated!” or no one else would ever get called on).
-
This exercise can go in any order-not everyone needs to be called upon once in order for a word to be repeated-the activity could jump from exhilarated to opulent to unkempt and back to exhilarated and then to inclement and back to opulent etc.
-
If you find your class size impacts the pace of this activity, split them up into groups of 10-15 members once everyone has learned the rules.
Speaking & Listening Standard 1. Prepare for and participate effectively in a range of conversations and collaborations
Language Standard 4. Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown words
Language Standard 6. Acquire and use accurately a range of general academic and domain-specific words and phrases; demonstrate independence in gathering vocabulary knowledge
Posted on Mon, Jun 04, 2012
Well summer is here! Although you've all sent (or are preparing to send) students off into the summer sunset, it's important to remind them that learning should continue the next three months. With smart phones, tablets, and computers playing a big part in most of our students lives, education apps are the easiest way to keep students using their brains this summer.
With this in mind, I set out to find some spellings apps. I especially like the idea of students using spelling apps throughout the summer because it goes hand-in-hand with vocabulary!
Worder is a word game which tests your ability to find words within a set of nine letters. This app will not only get students using words they already know, but help them discover new ones!
Build A Word-Learn to Spell can help students as young as three learn how to spell. This app is full of fun features, but I don't have to tell you about it... watch this demo!
Miss Spell's Class is a word game that lets players test their spelling skills against the most commonly misspelled words on Dictionary.com. With over 10,000 words in the game, students will find plenty of words to test their spelling skills!
My Spell Test- The Custom Spelling Test Creator will help students practice for in class spelling tests! Although the school year has ended for most of you, students could use this app throughout the summer to review words they learned during the school year.
Download this word list for grades 6-8 and send it home with students!