I wonder about the role television plays in vocabulary development for kids. In my experience working with little kids, there is a real difference among the 'Animal Planet' crown--those kiddos who love the kind of programming that tells them more about science, nature and history. These kids, spurred by their own natural curiosity, acquire all sorts of language to fuel their passions.
Joy's comments push my thinking. Yes, we are a landlocked bit of the world and many, many of our young students live very, very close to home. Yet, year after year a topic that inspired many was sharks and sea animals. Go figure! But with viewing experiences, the availability of books rich both in image and information and that special passion that only six and seven year olds can have, these language deficient landlubbers can suddenly become walking, talking experts in their fields. Funny how so much comes back to passion. Lori On 6/3/08 8:28 PM, "Joy" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > I'm finding myself smiling and nodding to everyone's posts. > > Vocabulary development stems from many things you've all mentioned, but I > really think I agree most with those who mentioned reading volume as a > vocabulary booster. When the author finds the exact specific word to describe > the action it can raise those chillbumps on your arm, make your mind soar, or > catch like a hiccup in your throat. This is why read aloud/think alouds are so > important, even in the intermediate and upper grades. > > Helping kids know all the different ways (for example: water can be wet) is > a beginning for understanding (there's that pesky word again) the vast > semantic diversity in our language. I think most of us here would agree that > worksheeets are not the way. And sometimes experiences are not practical (For > example, a trip to the beach for the kids in Lori's district). So how do we > transfer the knowledge in authentic ways without the experiences? How do we > teach abstract concepts that are not tangible? Can students learn what freedom > or democracy are without experiencing tyranny? > > OK I've gone off the deep end again, but I'm enjoying floating around. Keep > up the talk everyone! > > > > > Joy/NC/4 > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > How children learn is as important as what they learn: process and content > go hand in hand. http://www.responsiveclassroom.org > > > > > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > Mosaic mailing list > [email protected] > To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to > http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org. > > Search the MOSAIC archives at http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive. > -- Lori Jackson District Literacy Coach & Mentor Todd County School District Box 87 Mission SD 57555 http:www.tcsdk12.org ph. 605.856.2211 Literacies for All Summer Institute July 17-20. 2008 Tucson, Arizona _______________________________________________ Mosaic mailing list [email protected] To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org. Search the MOSAIC archives at http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive.
