Hi Gina, I know of one 'clever usage and applications out there'. Isabel Beck (my vocabulary guru who wrote Bringing Words to Life) has a vocabulary program that combines literature and vocabulary, introduces Tier 2 words, and actively engages students in thinking about word meanings and applying their word knowledge. I was modeling a lesson in a 4th grade classroom (nothing to do with vocabulary) and used the word divine. Almost all hands shot up in the air. I asked what was going on and one of the students shared that that was one of their words, and they raise their hands whenever they hear a vocabulary word. The class also keeps track of when they read the words in other contexts, etc. All 4th grades are using this program and we are watching students become excited about their vocabulary, and we are seeing transfer to writing! Beck's program is Elements of Reading: Vocabulary. The Steck-Vaughn rep told me there has been such a demand for this program that they are working on, or have completed, the middle school version. If it sounds at all interesting, request a sample and check it out. Hope this helps, Linda
On Jun 7, 2008, at 6:48 PM, gina nunley wrote: > > Susan, I love the thread you've opened up. I too teach 6th grade > and have been there and done that with dozens of great models, > methods, and activities, but like you I know I am still falling > short of what feels like a vocabulary approach that truly makes a > difference. The kids don't "own" new vocabulary to the degree that > I'd like them too. I keep trying to figure out how to help that > happen, and have come to the conclusion that maybe in the beginning > some of it does have to be pushed in what may seem like an > artifical manner. Take that anchor chart of words and directly ask > them to do something each week with it. Last year I had kids do > one minute presentations of word maps on new words they loved. But > again, I often felt it was in one ear and out the other. There > have to be soem clever usage and application ideas out there. > _________________________________________________________________ > It’s easy to add contacts from Facebook and other social sites > through Windows Live™ Messenger. Learn how. > https://www.invite2messenger.net/im/?source=TXT_EML_WLH_LearnHow > _______________________________________________ > 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. _______________________________________________ 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.
