Vocabulary Can Be Fun, Too!

Hello friends.

My name is Cara and I'm a WORD NERD.

I love words.  Everything about them.  I pore over them.  I **try** and make myself more interesting by using those "fun" words in random conversation.  

Words are FUN. 

Entertaining.

Convivial.

Delightful.

Enjoyable.

Fill in the blank here :)

I want my kids to love words as much as I do.  I want to hear them using "big" words in their everyday conversations.  Not that I expect my kids to use insanely challenging vocabulary all the time, but there's no reason they can't "speak smart"!  

Last year one of my goals was to increase my vocabulary instruction.  I wanted it to be more meaningful...more rigorous...more effective.  I did lots of research and bought my most FAVORITE vocabulary resource...

Y'all.  If you haven't read it yet, you MUST.  Seriously.  Completely changed the way I incorporate vocabulary instruction in my classroom.

Of course, I'm still a far way from where I want to be when it comes to vocabulary instruction, but I definitely feel like I'm further than where I was and that's a good thing!

I was able to share some of my most favorite vocabulary activities and ideas when I presented at the I Teach 1st conference in Vegas. {If you're in Franklin TN & Livonia MI, Wisconsin, Arkansas, & Texas,  I'll be coming to see you SOON, too!!!}  Here's one of my most favorite, tried & true, SIMPLE yet effective, vocabulary activities I use every year.

First off, you'll need to start with a book.  For this example, I read The Grumpy Morning.  

From that text, I pulled out 3 words I wanted my kids to learn.  Of course, this book would not be the last time they heard these words.  We incorporated them into various activities over the course of two weeks.  Generally I will introduce about 5-6 new vocabulary words every two weeks.

Before reading the book aloud, I introduce the words to the kids and ask them to predict what those words might mean.  I'll have a few kids help me with this & I'll write their pre-reading predictions on our chart.

When we're all finished with our predictions, I tell the kids that they need to listen for those words in the story and then I start reading. When we come to one of the words, the kids raise their hands and then I call on a few of them to tell me what they think the word means in context.  

Not only do they have to tell me what they think it means, but they have to prove to me why they think it by giving me the context clues.

Y'all.  They LOVE this.

It's SO simple and easy.  And they really, REALLY take to it!!!

At the end of our two week vocabulary unit, I'll "auction" off the chart and let one of the kids take it home.  I know the parents are THRILLED to have giant pieces of butcher paper come home with their kids {can you hear that sarcasm?!?!?! ;)}

Hope y'all can use that idea with your kids this year!!  I think they'll {& YOU!} will LOVE it!!!

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By request, I've uploaded my monthly Write the Room and Writing Centers into bundles.  Now you can buy the bunch and save A LOT!

Click on the pics for more info!!!