Building Vocabulary

If I am reading a passage and do not know the meaning of one word, my thoughts and comprehension of the passage scatter. I have to go back to try to figure out what that word means. I lose my train of thought and it takes time for me to get back on track. Teaching vocabulary to students is so essential because vocabulary comprehension leads to reading comprehension. If we want all students to succeed, we must close the gap between students from literacy-rich homes and those who’s families are less focused on education. To do this, all students must receive “rich oral language experiences.” One way to do this is to use new vocabulary and discuss it with students. This new knowledge is reinforced through speaking, writing and reading.  Teachers can also visuals throughout the classroom to help students build vocabulary. Below are some great ideas that can be extremely helpful in a classroom. 

This is an example of a poster that can be put in a classroom. When students are writing, you can ask them to replace one of the words they know with one on the list. This helps students learn the meaning of a new word and helps them practice spelling it as well. A list of adjectives can also be given to each individual student. They can reference back to the list when they are writing. 

Technology can be a helpful tool in helping students build vocabulary. The link below provides 21 digital tools that help build technology. It provides brief descriptions and direct links to all the tools. 

http://www.learningunlimitedllc.com/2013/02/20-digital-tools-for-vocabulary/

Questions: 

Do you think technology effectively builds vocabulary? 

Are other methods more effective?