Vocabulary

Word Walls

I use word walls in my classroom to help my students grow their vocabulary, and to provide a visual component to language acquisition for my students who are learning English. I encourage students to interact with the word wall, using it as a resource during writing to find more interesting language choices. I also intentionally include language from the word wall in my interactions with students whenever an opportunity arises. At one point, we also worked to organize the words by parts of speech to enrich grammar instruction. As noted by Baumann, Ware, & Edwards (2007), referring to the word wall has made my students more comfortable and enthusiastic about using these words organically and exploring new words.

Graphic Organizers

I have considered using graphic organizers like the Frayer Model to help my students build connections between new vocabulary and their prior knowledge to improve comprehension and memory (Bromley, 2007). For example, when we learn a new word, students could fill out sections for its definition, examples, non-examples, and characteristics. This process would help them deepen their understanding and make meaningful associations with the word. The visual structure should make it easier for them to remember the word and use it later in context.

TBD