Abstract

Word activities provide students with an enjoyable way to integrate learning and reinforce literacy skills. This effective practice provides examples of three of these activities for students and was submitted by Jeannette Napadow of Oak School in Hinsdale, Illinois.

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Issue

Providing word activities that cultivate literacy skills can be challenging for teachers, volunteers and mentors.

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Action

According to a first grade teacher at Oak School Elementary in Illinois, effective practices for providing word activities include:

Developing student vocabulary

During instructional sessions (reading or word work) as the class comes across a new vocabulary word the teacher should direct students' attention to the word or ask them to identify a word they would like to learn. The teacher then explains what the word means, and has the student identify when this word could apply to their life. The last portion of the exercise is to have the student use the word with the teacher or someone they know. The student then reports back on how they used the word. For example, a student might tell his/her parents, "I am yearning for a new puppy." Students can also illustrate the word.

Individualizing sight word instruction

The teacher tests students on the sight words they are expected to know. If the student demonstrates that they do not know between ten to twenty words, write the words on post-its and divide them into manageable sections (approximately five words per section) by drawing lines between the sets of words. Then tape these words to the student's desk. Now the student can practice any time throughout the day, and the teacher can quiz the student at any time on one manageable set of words. Once students learn one set of the words on the post-it, that section is crossed out and they earn a mini-sticker on a piece of colored paper (also taped to their desk).

Multi-purpose bulletin board

Create a bulletin board with a blue background. Add seaweed, fish, and a fishing hook with the title, "We are hooked on..." Add an ending to that phrase based on literacy units being studied. For example, "We are hooked on..."

• Ap, at, and an words (to practice short a words)
• Rhyming words
• Long "a" words
• Synonyms
• Antonyms
• Riddles
• Feeling words
• Similes
• Metaphors
• Multiple meaning words
• Homonyms
• Onomatopoeias

Then students use post-its to add their ideas to the bulletin board. This can be done by raising their hand during a lesson when they notice a word that applies to the board's topic or during their independent work time (this encourages them to notice and apply the skills you are practicing). Students can also stand at the board during "free time" or "center time" to try to think of more postings in partners or small groups. Additionally, the bulletin board is usable throughout the year, which saves time. Just have students remove their post-its and it is easy to change the topic.

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Context

Developing student vocabulary works well in tutoring sessions. Students can be given the word to keep and a reminder of how they can use the word in their lives. It also works well in whole-class instruction -- keep the word posted in the classroom so that the word can be used effectively throughout the day.

Individualizing sight word instruction is used in the first grade classroom as a way to optimize time, and allows students to see the words they need to target.

A multi purpose bulletin board can be used in other grade level classrooms as well. Prefixes, suffixes, root words and analogies are other options.

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Outcome

• Students have increased their interest in language while improving their vocabulary.
• Students are engaged in the targeted skill during whole-group and independent work.
• These word activities optimize teacher instruction.

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Evidence

• Students have retained vocabulary words throughout several months or a school year using these practices. They continue to use the words, which in turn increases retention.
• Students have rapidly learned their sight words.

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Source Documents

Related Practices

• Increasing literacy by dramatizing books with elementary school children

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Related sites

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