This presentation was presented at the 2010 MABE conference in Dearborn Michigan. The presentation speaks to different methods of teaching words to students.

1. Words and Comprehension: The Key to Growth Keith Pruitt, Ed.S. www.woweducationalconsulting.com Presentation sponsored by Pearson Longman Publishing

2. What impact would it have on your children if they could learn 1000-1500 newwords per year? How would the acquisition of this many words impact their comprehension? But First A Question… What is Comprehension?

4. Understanding how the words interplay to relay a message.

5. To exercise intellectual muscle

7. Let’s examine some methods of teaching vocabulary that will help comprehension.

8. From Pearson Longman Cornerstone Pre-teaching words in a context Visual Schema Transferable language

9. From Pearson Longman’s Keystone Thematic Instruction Visual Literacy

10. Thinking Chart How might I journey? Journeys boat walking car plane What type journey? fishing cruise Dinner boat swimming eating Meeting new people What activities might I do on a cruise?

11. Use Vocabulary Journals Theme: Journeys Words having to do with journeys 1.Voyages 2. Plundered 3.Scarce 4.Evolved 5.Ceased Theme: Families Words having to do with families 1.Mother 2.Father 3.Brother 4.Sister 5.Cousin 6.Grandparents 7.Home 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13.

13. From Pearson Longman’s Keystone Thematic Instruction Visual Literacy

14. Do Not Under-estimate the power of a picture. The Heart of the Tulip By Keith Pruitt © art by Keith

15. © art by Keith Early pioneers lived in log houses like this one.

16. © art by Keith Very large houses are sometimes called mansions.

17. translucent © art by Keith Use photography to help create schema with difficult words.

19. A Graphic Way of ShowingTense EAT ATE WillEat Future Past Present

20. Use graphic organizers to help students use the words in meaningful contexts

21. Direct Instruction of Vocabulary Explain Restate Show Discuss Refine and Reflect Apply and Learning Games Robert Marzano, Building Background Knowledge

22. Exploding The Vocabulary Through direct instruction, 5-8 words/week Adds approximately 160 words to reading/writing vocabularies. If we take the connective words for those five… look what happens.

23. A Word Tree Starts with Base Word So work becomes Works Worker Worked Working Will Work Labor Job Employment Exert Lazy

24. Using Word Tree Those five words have become @50 words. Now in 32 weeks we have instructed 1600 words. Students may gain another 320-600 words via reading. Now we have exploded the vocabulary by a maximum of 2200 words in 32 weeks. In the traditional program 640 words are instructed, but only 64-120 of them are learned. And emphasis is on spelling.

25. You Try It Here are some common words taught. What other words may we teach in conjunction with these: Glimmer Vast Artistic Disturb

26. Scaffold The Reading Pearson Longman Keystone Visual Literacy is crucial Gloss words that need explanation– do not assume students know these words. Provide explanation at point of usage. Check for understanding before going on.

27. Use good questioning to assess the level at which students comprehend. Begin at surface understanding and progress to analysis. Jack and Jill went… To fetch a pale of … But why did they go UP a hill to fetch water?

28. Go from this… Teach roots Suffixes Prefixes translucent Trans- Across, through, on the other side, beyond

29. translation To This transfer translated transferred transferable transference transportation translucent Trans- Across, through, on the other side, beyond

30. If you’ll just give me words today That I may understand, Then some day soon I’ll read your books Just because I can. They make no sense when first glimpse meets Because I have no connect, So if you work with me today Their meanings I’ll detect. I like to learn new words each day To me it’s lots of fun, So bring them on sweet teacher dear With them I’ll learn a ton! Keith Pruitt, 2010

31. Thank You Words of Wisdom Educational Consulting www.woweducationalconsulting.com Join us on facebook