For those of us who have been out of the K-12 school system for quite some time, we all remember the classic strategy for learning new vocab. First, we would look up a list of words in the dictionary. Then, we would write those words and their definitions a number of times. Eventually, we would take a vocabulary test to demonstrate all we had learned. How many of us actually turned around and used those words authentically, in writing or in conversation? Not many.
Thankfully, strategies for learning vocabulary have evolved. Educators no longer consider rote memorization to be an effective method for real learning. And having students copy vocabulary for the sake of learning it is pure busywork. Now, teachers provide learning opportunities for students to explore, discover, and manipulate new words. Sometimes, they even give students a choice of new words, and ask them to select words to which they are drawn. These methods almost never involve dictionaries.
Marzano’s Method for Teaching Vocab:
Robert Marzano, a renowned educational researcher, developed the following six-step method for teaching vocabulary:
Step One: The teacher introduces the new word to students through examples, imagery, and connections to students’ prior knowledge. The word’s definition might be included, but should not be the foundation of the introduction.
Step Two: Students paraphrase the word’s meaning. This is best done in their notebooks, where they have an ongoing list of newly learned vocabulary words. These could be sorted by subject area, alphabetically, or just in the order in which students learn them.
Step Three: Students represent the word visually, through a drawing, a symbol, or some other graphic design. Students might then share their representations with the class or with a peer.
Step Four: Students engage in activities that will deepen their understanding and level of comfort using a new word. These activities could include synonym/antonym work, categorizing words, using the word in a new sentence, etc.
Step Five: Students have a discussion either with a partner or in a small group about the word, their understanding of it, and when and how they can use it.
Step Six: Finally, students consistently review ‘old’ vocabulary words. They participate in games and activities that allow them to use new and previously learned vocab so they don’t risk losing it.
A Purposeful Process
While Marzano’s method may seem time-consuming, the benefits of strong vocabulary instruction far outweigh the time cost. Students with an expansive vocabulary read more, are better able to communicate verbally and in writing, and tend to perform better in school generally. They are able to express themselves in more nuanced ways, and can engage in more rigorous dialogue with peers and adults. So save the dictionary for those moments when you just need to look up a word, and increase your vocabulary by other means.
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