1. Thinking About Vocabulary
Kelly Gardner
PARATESOL 2009

2. A Little Bit About Me

3. Vocabulary

4. Research on Vocabulary
Knowing a word means more
than knowing the definition of a
word (Scott and Nagy, 1997,
Dale and O´Rourke, 1986)‫‏‬

5. Research on Vocabulary
Vocabulary instruction should
provide
Rich information about words and
their uses
Frequent and varied opportunities for
student to think about and use words
Enhanced student language
comprehension and production (Beck,
McKeown, and Kucan, 2002)‫‏‬

6. Vocabulary Activity: Word
Sort
Organize vocabulary into groups
Category 1 Category 2 Category 3 Category 4

7. Vocabulary Activity:
Word Sort
Organize vocabulary into groups
Critical Attributes
Can be open or closed (with labels
or without)‫‏‬
Students should justify why they
put the word where they did
(critical thinking)‫‏‬

8. Vocabulary Activity: Non-
linguistic representation
 Picture dictionary: Create a non-linguistic
representation of each vocabulary word.
 Example:
Term Image
Accomodate: To allow for; consider the
educational or emotional needs of.

9. Non-linguistic
Representation
Critical Attributes
Students must understand words
before they create a non-linguistic
representation of the word.
The quality of the drawing should
not be judged.

10. Vocabulary Activity
Vocabulary Skits
Act out the meaning of your word
without speaking.

11. Vocabulary Activity:
Think-Pair-Share
Think/ Write about your
understanding of the word.
Pair with someone to describe,
explain or compare understanding
Share your knowledge of the word by
creating a visual or dramatizing the
word in order to teach it to others.

12. Vocabulary Activity: Matching
 Game
 Matching activity
Find the person who has the
picture or card that corresponds
with yours.

13. Vocabulary Activity: Matching
Critical Attributes
Should be done with words that
will create some discussion
representation of the word.
Adding a picture is helpful with
lower level students.
Scaffold by cutting each pair
differently

14. Plan a Vocabulary Activity
Think of an English lesson that
introduces new vocabulary.
Choose a vocabulary strategy
discussed today.
Plan how you will use it with
that lesson.

15. Reflection
I believe...
One thing I´ve learned...
In my opinion...
I´m confused about...
I will use this...
I now know...
I think...
I wonder...

16. Resources
Allen, J. (2007). Inside Words: Tools for
Teaching Academic Vocabulary, Grades 4-12.
Portland: Stenhouse Publishers.
Beck, I. L., M. G. McKeown, and L. Kucan.
(2002). Bringing Words to Life: Robust
Vocabulary Instruction. New York: Guilford
Press.
Dale, E., and J. O’Rourke. (1986). Vocabulary
Building: A Process Approach. Columbus,
OH: Zaner-Bloser.
Scott, J. A., and W. Nagy. (1997).
“Understanding the Definitions of Unfamiliar
Verbs.” Reading Research Quarterly. 32 (2):
184: 200.