Incorporating Vocabulary Activities

Incorporating Vocabulary Learning Activities

Now we can discuss research based vocabulary learning activities that are best

practices for student learning. Alongside explicit vocabulary learning, there are several

ways to incorporate engaging activities into the classroom, including student

collaboration and discussion. Many of these include new literacy technologies which

students can also use through personal digital inquiry practices to seek vocabulary

knowledge independently. This post will explain vocabulary activities, how they affect all

students, and how students can take charge of their own language learning.

In one research article i came across, I found the term, “Self-directed inferential

learning”. This terminology, “takes into account the motivation, attitude, interests, and

active engagement on the part of the learner and helps to explain how learners acquire

new knowledge (in this case language) through simple exposure.”

(Cetin & Flamand, 2012). Research suggests that exposure and interaction with word

walls, created by teachers, and also visual representations created by students, can

greatly increase English language learners vocabulary growth. Many teachers have

word walls in their classrooms, but how they are used is equally, if not more so,

important to student learning. Allowing students to create visual representations to

add to the word wall is just one extension activity that should be used in the classroom.

Collaborative conversations are an effective tool that educators should use to create

opportunities for students to discuss vocabulary words in meaningful contexts

(Wolsey & Lapp, 2017).. When students are exposed to new vocabulary, they are not

typically going to learn it concretely the first time. It takes multiple exposures, and

often discussion with peers in which they engage in discourse, as students typically

take different meanings away, and make personal connections that should be shared.

When students are asked to make personal connections to vocabulary and share it

with others, it opens up opportunities for more connections and learning to happen.

Collaboration also takes place with concept sorts, as demonstrated in this video:

Concept Sort 

Multimedia resources are widely available for students to access that provide exposure

opportunities for vocabulary learning. E-Books, and even some websites often provide

definitions and videos within the texts as students are reading. The list below comes from

Reading, Writing, and Literacy 2.0 (Johnson, 2014). It details resources that often includes

domain-specific vocabulary, graphics, and video clips to further students’ exposure to words:

Johnson, 2014

By integrating some of these resources, it will be possible for students, in time, to participate

in personal digital inquiry practices to learn words that interest them. When students are

able to pursue reading about their interests, they will organically discover words they need

and want to know about. 

As for disciplinary vocabulary words, there are many teaching strategies and video

resources to assist educators in implementing best practices. The video below explains using

collaborative discussions and multiple resources to learn scientific vocabulary:

Teaching Academic and Scientific Vocabulary 

The last article to discuss comes from . https://www.readingrockets.org/, 10 Ways to Use

Technology to Build Vocabulary (Dalton & Grisham, 2017). Many resources are also provided

and descriptions for teachers to easily transfer to their classrooms. 


Explicit vocabulary teaching strategies

Resources

eVoc strategy 1: Learn from visual displays of word relationships within text

http://www.wordle.net/ 

https://wordsift.org/ 

eVoc strategy 2: Take a digital vocabulary field trip

Teachers can create their own vocabulary field trips at http://trackstar.4teachers.org/trackstar/;jsessionid=2934BDBC6E2141CC01FAAB07534B79ED 

eVoc strategy 3: Connect fun and learning with online vocabulary games

https://www.vocabulary.co.il/ 

https://www.vocabulary.com/lists/ 

eVoc strategy 4: Have students use media to express vocabulary knowledge

Google Slides

Powerpoint

SeeSaw video/audio recordings, visual displays

eVoc strategy 5: Take advantage of online word reference tools that are also teaching tools

https://www.visualthesaurus.com/ 

Dalton, B., & Grisham, D. L. (2017, December 15). 10 Ways to Use Technology to Build

Vocabulary . Reading Rockets.

https://www.readingrockets.org/article/10-ways-use-technology-build-vocabulary


These interactive resources will engage students with vocabulary learning in new and

different ways when employed in classrooms. 

As educators of 21st century students, we need to stay current on new resources and

strategies for all literacy and subject areas. By beginning using these vocabulary resources

and strategies, you will be implementing new literacy practices to develop students’

vocabulary knowledge in engaging ways.

Comments

  1. Sally BeachDecember 7, 2020 at 11:52 AM

    thanks for all of the links and videos that support what you are saying.

    ReplyDelete

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