Cherry Tree Hill
Aimee Frey
Vocabulary
Finding Joy in Teaching Vocabulary
Activity One: Word Study
In order to best support all students it is important to preload vocabulary from books being used in the classroom, especially reading books. By using a morphemic analysis where root words, affixes, and definitions are taught with the help of a graphic organizer, it enables the learner to develop more vocabulary knowledge and techniques to figure out words in the time available. The graphic organizer provided holds room for two vocabulary words per page (unless it is double sided). For example, the two words for the day might be “megalopolis” and “hyperbolic”. The words would be written at the top of each section on the page. Underneath the word it has a grid that is marked at the top with prefix, root word, suffix, other words using root word or affixes, and the definition of word. The students would then write the word broken up into root word and affix(es). For example: mega(lo) polis . The students would then discuss other words with the same prefix mega(lo) and then they would move on to words that they know which have the same root word polis in them. Each of these new words would be put into the graphic organizer under “other words using either affix(es) or root words depending on where it belongs on the list.
Based on the words provided through the discussion they would guess the meaning for mega(lo) and then polis. The students would then write the correct meaning for each of these morphologies underneath the mega(lo) and polis. The students then using the definitions of the morphologies would then predict the definition which, if need be corrected and put into the definition of the word. So, for example, the Greek morphemes megalo means great or big and polis means city (Online Etymology Dictionary, 2024). The definition then is a great big city.
By the end of this vocabulary lesson the students have learned four Latin or Greek affixes or root words. They also have gained six new words per root or affix which means they have 24 more words added to their knowledge through the morphological study. This morphological study not only helps in the English content area, but also other content areas because Latin and Greek root words/affixes are found in science and math as well.
The vocabulary from the book chosen should be front loaded to the students every two to three chapters that way the pace wouldn’t be impeded with a vocabulary debrief during the reading or at every chapter break. The breakdown of morphemes would enable the students to not only comprehend the story better, but they could use the same strategy while reading other books to decode other words with Greek or Latin morphemes (Roe, et al, 2014).
Activity Two: Exploration
Background building activities where the students get to immerse themselves in concrete examples help them to attach their new found words to the place or object being learned about (Roe, et al, 2014). For example, looking at the vocabulary word megalopolis showing students videos of great big cities would help to build upon the morphological lesson of the root and affix means.
Another way to do this is through field trips to look at megalodons in a museum or if the content area is in art to take them to an art museum where they get to experience the words in their actuarial realm. For example, they would get to learn the words, realism, impressionistic, theme, abstract, aesthetic, mood, and tone. Mood and tone are cross-cutting concepts with English because just like a painting can have mood and tone, so can a poem or novel.
This activity can also be done virtually through virtual field trips. For example, the students can take a “walk” through the Louvre in Paris without having to hop on a plane. The students would still get to immerse themselves in the art and language of art without having to leave their classroom. The students can then use the words with their partners as they talk about the art being presented at the Louvre. When students apply their first hand experience with the novel being read it leads to a deeper understanding and comprehension than just a typical word study could ever accomplish. They also get to learn words that cross-cut to other content areas which helps to bolster their academic lives in other arenas.
Virtual Field Trip Ideas:
Activity Three: Games
Word play is vital for students to not only gain mastery with the words, but also to retain them (Roe, et al, 2014). Some great word game play are to do crossword puzzles with the definitions of the words providing clues for words, charades, or go on a word hunt. Vocabulary charades makes students have to think of how to act out the words studied and thereby building a deeper connection with the word by using another modality to learn it (Mills, 2023). For example, if the word is megalopolis the student might have to use hand gestures to indicate part of the definition of the word and then the other half of the meaning of the word. So they might show one finger meaning the first part of the word. Then they might show a gesture that means big. Then they show two fingers meaning the second part of the word. Then they might show a cityscape through hand gestures. While the student is acting out the word the students on that team are trying to guess the word. However, if that team can’t guess then it goes to the other team to huddle together to come to an agreement on the word and then guess it. This involves all students and uses not only hand gestures, mental memory, but also thinking abstractly about the words which further cements the vocabulary words into the brain.
Word hunts are where the students go through a book, video, virtual field trip to find or listen for their vocabulary words. The word hunt can be put into teams or it can be done solo. The activity may also be done for points, for example the student with the most words found gets to have 20 class points. However, it can just be for the enjoyment of the activity. The activities are to continue practicing the words already studied from the previous word study activities to further the growth, development, and to put into memory the words being used. Remembering the vocabulary through fun practice also creates more depth in their writing not only in English, but in other classes as well.
Free Vocabulary Games:
References
Online Etymology Dictionary. (2024) Megalopolis. Douglas Harper. https://www.etymonline.com
/word/megalopolis
Roe, B., Kolodziej, N., Stoodt-Hill, B., Burns, P. (2014). Secondary school literacy instruction: The content
areas. (11th Ed). Cengage Learning.Mills, S. (2023).
ESL charades word list and activity. Study.com. https://study.com/academy/lesson/esl-charades-word-
list-activity.html