Marzano, created a 6 step system for teaching vocabulary. Below is a graph if you are unfamiliar with this process.
After direct instruction, students need to try to interact with the new words they have learned. For the past few weeks, 8th graders have been participating in activities & playing games to showcase their knowledge of new vocabulary from the stories & articles read in class. Below are descriptions of games we have done.
"Taboo"
This is very similar to the traditional game of Taboo! I gave each small group a stack of notecards with the vocabulary words for the week. Under the vocabulary word, were 2-3 other words or phrases that the students were challenged not to menton while describing the word. They could use phrases, pictures, actions, context clues, and specific examples to try and get their team to guess the word. (If they mentioned the "taboo" word, they just continued but for older students you could create a different rule...) Every student had to participate once in being the describer! No points were kept... But hopefully in the future if we are doing an overall review of words we could compete against one another!
"Quiz-Quiz Trade"
"Quiz-Quiz Trade" is an activity where Partner A holds up a flash card with a question, sentence fill in the blank, a scenario or word for Partner B to respond to. Then Partner B shows Partner A their flash card to answer. If students answer incorrectly... They will coach the other student to success. Students rotate around the room, going from partner to partner until time is called. This is very interactive. I join in and use this as a formative assessment. (Great review after reading a story or article & an excellent way to differentiate)
"Heads Down Vocabulary Up"
Ever play "Heads up-Seven up"? This was probably my favorite childhood memory from school. This is a modified version where students are give vocabulary words with cards and pick students (by putting their thumb down) and the students have to guess what "vocabulary word" chose them. If they get it right.. They must restate the definition and provide an example!
"Gallery Walk"
To activate prior knowledge & to apply their new vocabulary words... Students took a "gallery walk" around the room. Each station had a sentence for students to fill in the blank with our new words. Students used context clues to complete this activity.
"Kahoot"
Kahoot is an online tool I often use to ask questions to assess knowledge! Go to getkahoot.it to learn how to use this in your classroom! Each student is playing against eachother and earning points to be on the leaderboard. This is really intense ... The kids love it! I'm asked pretty much everyday to play this!
Creating active learners is something I'm very passionate about! I hope I've inspired you to put away those worksheets and think outside the box!
Until Next Time,
Ritchie
Until Next Time,
Ritchie