Effective strategies for teaching academic vocabulary in middle school ELA Middle school ELA curriculum for academic vocabulary development
Looking for a way to get students to have fun learning new words AND remember them longer? Try these brain-based vocabulary activities.
Effective strategies for teaching academic vocabulary in middle school ELA Middle school ELA curriculum for academic vocabulary development
Set those boring worksheets aside and take your vocabulary lessons to the next level! Your kiddos will tap into their creativity, get up out of their desks, and work cooperatively to tackle their word study! Most of these ideas can be adapted for any grade level, but these are especially geared for 6th through 8th grade. Get ready to throw rote learning out the window for good and implement our list of effective vocabulary activities for middle school students today! Let’s take a look!
Since I don't have a vocabulary book or program that I HAVE to follow at my school, I used to always worry if I was doing enough vocabulary instruction. Even when I was theoretically following best practices or authentically investigating words as they came up in texts, I was concerned about if I was really helping my students become better readers. After a lot of trial and error, I'm now proud of what we do for middle school vocabulary, which falls into four main areas: Specific Words for Texts and Units Word of the Week Program (see this post) Vocabulary.com use for differentiation (see bottom of post) Greek & Latin roots instruction (see this blog post for details) This mix of interaction, instruction, differentiation, and assessment is working for my students better than ever before (and is showing up in their reading scores). Today, I'm going to share the details of my Word of the Day/Week setup (also known as the Word Nerd Challenge), which is essentially doing deeper instruction of 40 words (10 words per quarter). Here's How it Works: Because I teach middle school, I need the materials to be age-appropriate and easy to read, so I've made my Word of the Week resources minimalist and without clutter -- print-and-go materials with no need to add extra, unnecessary information. I want my students to learn the vocabulary terms with the definitions, synonyms and antonyms, Greek or Latin roots, and so on. Here are the steps for how I carry out the Word of the Week program in my class: Pre-test: Check initial understanding of the 40 words Bell-ringer: Use the PowerPoint visual display (or just stick the guided notes packet under your document camera) while students record information into their guided notes journal Guided notes: Fill-in-the-blank graphic organizer customized for each word Flashcards: Pre-made Quizlet sets (for each 10-word set AND overall) Quizzes: Students take a quiz every 10 words Bulletin board: Display the cumulative list of words learned this year Post-test: Assess growth over time I sometimes throw in some additional things, like these: Skills test: An optional assessment with 10 NEW words to practice the skills taught through the guided notes journal Certificates: Celebrate student victory from the post-test results Journal cover and extras for the guided notes, like student directions, growth chart, etc. Personally, the vocabulary terms that I use in my classroom are ACT/SAT level words, even though I teach middle school. This prepares them for high school and for those tests that they'll have to take eventually to help them gain admission to colleges and universities. Another benefit of using words at this level is that they commonly appears in real-world contexts, like the news! If you'd like a ready-made vocabulary program that will take a task off your plate, then you can purchase my Word of the Week Program here (Volume 1) and here (Volume 2) in my Teachers Pay Teachers store. I've taken all of the work out of it for you and created a ready-to-use but editable vocabulary program! How I use Vocabulary.com This is a paid program that my school purchased after I requested it. Here's how we used it last year (our first year of the program): Every student had an account, and I set them up into their class periods. Every student had a goal to "master" 10 words per quarter, at minimum. For some students, this was challenging (especially for those who struggle with reading or vocabulary and took a long time to get the several-questions-right-in-a-row needed to "master" a word). However, many students exceeded this goal - by the hundreds. At the end of the quarter, students logged their statistics as well as writing down a short sample of words they mastered and words they're currently working on. (This gave me, and their parents, a view of the difficulty level of the words that the program had given them.) I'm happy to say that the vocabulary.com program is their favorite online program (more than, say, IXL or CommonLit), and students were authentically choosing to play it in their downtime. (This review of vocabulary.com is not an ad and is my personal opinion.) What are some of your favorite methods for teaching vocabulary? Let me know in the comments!
Looking for Wordle classroom ideas? Incorporate Wordle into your classroom with this activities, ideas, and templates.
Looking for a fun vocabulary activity? This extension is perfect for middle and high school to help encourage critical thinking and associations.
These ten top-notch short stories are perfect for teaching in middle school. Students can access the stories online.
Let's dive into some new options to teach vocabulary, for those who have the time and energy to pursue them. In this post and podcast, I'm sharing ten ideas for making the study of vocabulary something students might even look forward to.
The start of a new school year or new semester is the perfect time to establish new classroom learning routines! Whether it be a bell-ringer routine for the
Looking for Wordle classroom ideas? Incorporate Wordle into your classroom with this activities, ideas, and templates.
Let's dive into some new options to teach vocabulary, for those who have the time and energy to pursue them. In this post and podcast, I'm sharing ten ideas for making the study of vocabulary something students might even look forward to.
Find strategies for teaching ELA academic vocabulary with graphic organizers for students, a word wall, and engaging games from mixed-upfiles.com
With a new school year upon us, here is a look at 10 must-use secondary ELA teaching units, lessons, and activities for your classroom. These units are
Use these high-impact strategies for teaching vocabulary to make learning active and engaging in your middle school or high school classroom!
We all know teaching vocabulary is the key to making gains in reading comprehension for Middle School, but how can we make it more interesting?
Looking for a new vocabulary activity to engage your middle school or high school students? After students make webs of their vocabulary words, have their partners try to guess the word. Read on for directions and samples.
Follow my blog with Bloglovin Teaching vocabulary is vital for the secondary content-area classroom, but the task can also be the most boring activity students must endure. Change that up with this simple how-to! Make learning vocabulary an event in your classroom rather than a start-of-unit menial task. Allow adequate time for the event, and […]
Using Pixar films in the English Language Arts classroom is an engaging way to review literary terms. Read this post to learn how you can use this!
Word wall bulletin boards are a great way to promote vocabulary growth in middle school classrooms. Find out 10 creative ways to use them!
Ok, I get these Q’s frequently from teachers who reach out to me regarding setting up and running stations or centers (same thing, basically) in their middle school English / Language Arts / Reading / Writing classes: How do I make stations work so I can . . . >> teach my students while also
This past school year was a great one. With every school year that passes, I like to take a moment and reflect on activities that were successful in the
Effective strategies for teaching academic vocabulary in middle school ELA Middle school ELA curriculum for academic vocabulary development
Wondering how to teach vocabulary effectively and meaningfully in secondary classrooms? Try these activities, strategies, and approaches if you're interested in upping your vocabulary game. #vocabularyactivities #highschoolela
Middle schoolers benefit from small group instruction. This post takes a deep dive in 6th grade literacy centers ideas + FREE ELA activities.
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Looking for a way to get students to have fun learning new words AND remember them longer? Try these brain-based vocabulary activities.
These simple tips will help you feel capable of making time and space for middle school vocabulary instruction in your classroom or at home.
Find strategies for teaching vocabulary in the upper elementary classroom. Get actionable steps you can take today!
Before beginning any writing unit with my middle school students, I always begin with vocabulary but not with boring old dictionary work!
Looking for a new vocabulary activity to engage your middle school or high school students? After students make webs of their vocabulary words, have their partners try to guess the word. Read on for directions and samples.
The content and skills students learn in their middle school English language arts classes provide them with a strong foundation and help prepare them for high school and beyond, and these middle school ELA lessons are just the ticket! From learning about fundamental grammar rules to learning how to become stronger and more confident writers, middle school is an important time for students to begin thriving in their English classes.
This post may contain affiliate links. That means that if you click the links and make a purchase I may receive compensation at no additional cost to you. I do not recommend any companies that I do not persoanlly use and love. Please read our disclaimer for more info. Word walls are common things to see in elementary school classrooms. But, as the students get older and older, you begin to see them less. Word walls still have use in secondary classrooms. Benefits for English Language Learners Students who are English Language Learners could benefit the most from having word walls in middle school or high school classrooms. These students are constantly trying to comprehend what they’re reading or hearing, translate it into their native language, and then formulate a response and translate it back. This can be exhausting. Providing these students with a word wall with commonly used and taught vocabulary words could help them recall the information quicker. It would also be useful for these students to have visuals paired with the words on the word wall. For more strategies for working with Language Learners, check out: Strategies for Working with English Language Learners. Benefits for students with disabilities Students who struggle with retention or recall often have difficulty committing new information to memory. For these students, using a word wall to help them recall information saves them time and frustration. Creating stronger writers Giving students easy access to vocabulary words will help them incorporate it into their writing. If students are writing and they have a word that they are struggling to recall, they are probably going to give up easily. When they give up, they will choose a synonym they are more familiar within their writing. This often results in students not using grade-level vocabulary in their writing. Word walls will help them recall these new and more complex words while they are completing in-class writing assignments. The more they use these vocabulary words, the more they will be committed to memory. This will help them cement these words into their brains and slowly mature their writing. “Dead” word walls Some teachers use word walls to show the words that students should no longer be using in their classrooms. Under words like “bad,” “good,” or “said” teachers hang up more mature synonyms. This will actively help students while they are writing to make their writing more grade-level appropriate because the information is readily available. Also, Check-Out: Pre-Reading Strategies in Middle School When Co-Teaching Gets Tough Get your free IEP summary page! Subscribe to get our latest content by email. Success! Now check your email to confirm your subscription. There was an error submitting your subscription. Please try again. First Name Email Address We use this field to detect spam bots. If you fill this in, you will be marked as a spammer. Get your download! We won't send you spam. Unsubscribe at any time. Powered by ConvertKit
A three-step process for teaching your students how to identify,
As teachers we know that vocabulary is pivotal in students’ success. When I was growing up, our vocabulary activities consisted of looking up definitions in the dictionary and copying them down on notebook paper. Do you think I truly understood those vocabulary words? Not. One. Bit. In order to truly understand vocabulary words and what […]
This month, the Mob is focusing on vocabulary. There's no doubt that introducing, teaching, and reinforcing vocabulary is vital, but what is the best way to do it? Umm, Don't Try This Yes, you guessed it. Giving students word lists, vocabulary word finds, and even crossword puzzles are not going to build their vocabulary. Rote memorization doesn't work -- not in any real, meaningful way. But What Works? I'm not sure there is one perfect way to teach vocabulary. (That's the good news!) Since students all learn in different ways and at different rates, it's important to practice vocabulary in a variety of ways. We know that repeated, meaningful interaction with words helps students learn, understand, and use them. Try This: Generate Word Interest Help raise your students' awareness of the importance of word use by getting them out of their seats to play games! Gather up your Scrabble board and borrow several others and play scrabble. Even though your students aren't technically studying content vocabulary, they are searching their minds for words that contain high value letters and words that will fit on the board. Make a word wall -- or at least an "Interesting Words" wall. Encourage students to add words to a blank piece of butcher paper on your classroom wall. What words do they notice from their reading? Allowing students to illustrate the word's meaning or initial their word finds can help generate interest and enthusiasm for word collections. Subscribe and use Merriam Webster's "Word of the Day." While I wouldn't recommend trying to keep up with a new word a day, you could choose a word of the week. I love this resource because it provides an audio pronunciation and a bit of etymology for the word. Try This: Vocabulary Collector When your students are reading, provide them with a vocabulary collector. It can be as simple as a sheet of paper folded into thirds. Ask students to jot down words and phrases that they come along in their reading. These words could go on your "Interesting Words" wall or into a Vocabulary Catcher (see below). Again, you are encouraging your students to become more aware of words and how they are used. Vocabulary collectors are also helpful in practicing using context clues. Try This: "Vocabulary Catcher" Games Remember fortune tellers? Cootie catchers? Use them for vocabulary. The great thing is that students can create several throughout the school year and use them for impromptu games. I also like them because each one only has eight spots for words -- a manageable amount of words to gather and understand. I have a Vocabulary Catcher freebie on my Teachers Pay Teachers store. Be sure to check it out! The Bottom Line Vocabulary, whether it's content vocabulary or not, is important. Getting students interested and engaged with new words is the first step! So, what innovative ideas do you use to teach vocabulary? Share your ideas below! Happiness always♥
Engaging, student-centered vocabulary activities for secondary students, vocabulary lessons, vocabulary practice, vocabulary ideas
These ten top-notch short stories are perfect for teaching in middle school. Students can access the stories online.
Looking for a way to get students to have fun learning new words AND remember them longer? Try these brain-based vocabulary activities.
Many English words have roots derived from Greek and Latin, and understanding these roots helps students deduce meanings and make connections between words. It enhances vocabulary acquisition, supp…
Teachers like vocabulary strategies that make learning more meaningful and lasting. Check out these 15 Strategies to Ramp Up Vocabulary Instruction.
Wondering how to teach vocabulary effectively and meaningfully in secondary classrooms? Try these activities, strategies, and approaches if you're interested in upping your vocabulary game. #vocabularyactivities #highschoolela
“Everyone is telling me to teach grammar, but no one has told me HOW yet! There’s so much information and so many ideas, and I’m just overwhelmed!” If you’ve ever...
Middle school vocabulary is imperative for a student's future success. Make sure they have the tools to succeed by browsing this list of vocabulary words.
Let's dive into some new options to teach vocabulary, for those who have the time and energy to pursue them. In this post and podcast, I'm sharing ten ideas for making the study of vocabulary something students might even look forward to.
Looking for a fun vocabulary activity? This extension is perfect for middle and high school to help encourage critical thinking and associations.
