Free Instructional Vocabulary Resources
Vocabulary instruction is vitally important to advanced reading comprehension and writing. Words are the foundations of our language. Students learn the words they need to converse, read, and write in three key ways. First, students learn academic vocabulary through wide reading in a variety of genre at their instructional level. Simply lots of reading does not improve vocabulary. What is read determines what is learned. It may be that most teachers need to increase the textual complexity of class novels and assigned independent reading to maximize vocabulary growth. Second, students improve their vocabulary from becoming more efficient in recognizing context clues and applying the context clue categories to making educated guesses as to the meanings of unknown words. Looking up every word in the dictionary is not advisable. Third, learning high frequency Greek and Latin roots/affixes builds academic vocabulary. Greek and Latinates are found in 50% of all English dictionary entries.
Following are articles, free resources, and teaching tips regarding how to teach vocabulary in the intermediate, middle, and high school from the Pennington Publishing Blog. Bookmark and visit us often. Oh, and don’t forget to copy down the 10% discount code found only on this blog to purchase the quality curricula and resources offered by Pennington Publishing.
Vocabulary
Why Vocabulary Lists Don’t Work
http://penningtonpublishing.com/blog/reading/why-vocabulary-word-lists-don%E2%80%99t-work/
Teaching vocabulary word lists does not work. The strategy of giving twenty words on Monday and testing on Friday is both inefficient and ineffective. However, three instructional strategies do make sense to help students improve their vocabularies.
How to Improve Your Vocabulary
http://penningtonpublishing.com/blog/spelling_vocabulary/how-to-improve-your-vocabulary/
Knowing common Greek and Latin prefixes, roots, and suffixes will significantly improve one’s vocabulary. In fact, over half of the words in any dictionary contain a Greek or Latin word part. Academic language especially relies on Greek and Latin. This article gives the high frequency word parts to improve anyone’s vocabulary.
How to Teach Prefixes, Roots, and Suffixes
http://penningtonpublishing.com/blog/reading/how-to-teach-prefixes-roots-and-suffixes/
Prefixes, roots, and suffixes: These word parts that are, indeed, the keys to academic vocabulary—the types of words that students especially need to succeed in school. However, most teachers do not know the best instructional methods to teach these important word parts. Learn the techniques that work best.
Context Clues Vocabulary Review Game
http://penningtonpublishing.com/blog/reading/context-clues-categories/
This context clues vocabulary review game helps students apply the five major context clues categories to informed word guessing. Using the Pictionary® game, students drawing context clues according to the five categories.
Vocabulary Word Part Games
http://penningtonpublishing.com/blog/reading/vocabulary-word-part-games/
Students are more likely to use study and practice procedures that are “game-like” and less boring than simple rote memorization. Here are some fun and effective vocabulary word part review games.
Vocabulary Review Games
http://penningtonpublishing.com/blog/reading/vocabulary-review-games/
Students are more likely to use study and practice procedures that are “game-like” and less boring than simple rote memorization. Here are some fun and effective vocabulary review games.
Top 40 Vocabulary Pet Peeves
http://penningtonpublishing.com/blog/reading/top-40-vocabulary-pet-peeves/
Here is the list of the Top 40 Vocabulary Pet Peeves that make Americans see read. Read, laugh, and cringe over mistakes that you or your friends make when abusing these words.
How to Memorize Vocabulary
http://penningtonpublishing.com/blog/reading/practical-tips-to-memorize-vocabulary/
Many people want to improve their vocabularies, but memorization and retention are the key roadblocks. Not everyone has a natural ability to memorize. However, memorization is a skill that can be learned and improved upon with commitment and practice.
How to Teach and Learn Precise Vocabulary
Memorizing words with precise denotative and connotative definitions is important. Sloppy use of our language inhibits effective communication and leads to misunderstandings. Learn the techniques to teach vocabulary with precise meanings.
The Problem with Most Vocabulary Instruction Part I
http://penningtonpublishing.com/blog/reading/the-problem-with-most-vocabulary-instruction-part-1/
Most teachers teach vocabulary inefficiently. Learn the common mistakes that teachers make in vocabulary instruction and how to re-orient vocabulary instruction to help students make real gains in vocabulary acquisition.
How We Learn Vocabulary from Reading Part II
http://penningtonpublishing.com/blog/reading/how-we-learn-vocabulary-from-reading-part-ii/
Most vocabulary beyond the first ten thousand words comes from independent reading. Wide reading of challenging academic text produces the greatest net vocabulary gain.
How to Double Vocabulary Acquisition from Reading Part III
Refining the skills of context clues strategies will help readers increase vocabulary. Wide reading of challenging academic text is the most efficient method of vocabulary acquisition.
More Articles, Free Resources, and Teaching Tips from the Pennington Publishing Blog
- English-language Arts Standards
- English-language Arts Instruction
- Essay Strategies
- The Writing Process/Writers Workshop
- Writing Style
- Grammar and Mechanics
- Spelling
- Vocabulary
- Structural Analysis/Syllabication/Oral Language
- Teaching Reading in the ELA Classroom
- ELA/Reading Assessments
- Reading Intervention
- Independent Reading
- Response to Intervention
- EL/ESL
- Differentiated Instruction (RtI)
- Critical Thinking
- Study Skills
- Test Preparation
- Educational Issues and Teaching Trends
- Developmental Characteristics
- Professional Development
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Teaching Spelling and Vocabulary is the comprehensive curriculum that integrates spelling and vocabulary instruction. Perfect for RtI and intervention classes, the resources teach the standards-based conventional spelling rules with spelling tests, word sorts, and memorable spelling songs. Also get 64 remedial vowel-sound spelling worksheets that correspond with the comprehensive TSV Diagnostic Spelling Assessment to enable the teacher to truly differentiate spelling instruction. Vocabulary instruction is provided through weekly Greek and Latin affixes/roots worksheets, syllable and accent pattern worksheets, context clues worksheets, and syllable transformers. Additional resources include spelling games, vocabulary games, spelling and vocabulary flashcards, extensive word lists, and more. No other spelling-vocabulary program matches the comprehensive resources of this curriculum. Truly differentiate instruction with the resources found in this large three-ring binder. 377 pages
