Vocabulary is of paramount importance in creating a successful reader. While we often think of vocabulary building as learning the meaning of individual words, a skilled reader uses this knowledge to understand how connected strings of words come together to understand a larger, more complex structure.
Since most of our students learn English once they begin formal schooling, learning English vocabulary comes with unique challenges. Unlike English language learners in English-speaking countries, most of our children have limited exposure to English outside of school. That means they hear and understand fewer words, limiting their ability to store and use words to express themselves. We all know students who cannot express their ideas or answer questions in their own words. How can we help them develop an in-depth knowledge of words, their meanings, and their usage?
Our workshop on Teaching Vocabulary in the Primary Classes addresses these concerns. Participants will learn about
- Research on how children learn and store word meanings
- Selecting words to teach (the three tiers of vocabulary)
- Strategies to teach vocabulary
- Instructional sequence to teach vocabulary
Participants will practice instructional strategies during the session and receive a handout with activities to use in their classes.