NON-LINGUISTIC REPRESENTATION
Non-linguistic representation is one of the most efficient ways to teach vocabulary. It allows the students a way to connect to prior knowledge and a way to help remember definitions. I still remember the names of the planets, the Great Lakes, music notes, and the order of operations because of mnemonics that were taught to me in school. Yes, it may sound silly and you may be thinking of course I know those things. So let me put it another way-which one can you name w/o really thinking about: the planets or the seven dwarfs? It makes a difference. Stop having the students copy the definition and have them use one of the five NLRs to learn vocabulary. How do I know this works? Besides using it in my classroom and seeing it work, I have also been tested on vocabulary using NLR and copying the definitions. We were given 10 words. The first five we needed to write down the definition and the next five were taught using one of the NLRs. Afterward we were given the list of words and had to write down the definitions of the ten words. Guess which words I could remember and write down: The ones that were taught to us using NLR! I can't even remember the other words let alone the definitions we copied for them.
1. Graphic Organizers-most teachers are familiar with basic graphic organizers. Don't forget there are many text pattern graphic organizers too-Chronological/Sequence, Compare/Contrast, Concept/Definition, Description, Episode, and Generalization/Principle.
2. Physical Models-modeling clay is a great thing to use to make a physical model, but you can use anything. In one of our trainings we were giving unifix cubes, a paper plate, a pipe cleaner, and a few other materials. We had to make something that described our vocabulary words. Have them be creative!
3. Generating Mental Pictures-tell a story to help students create a mental picture. How will the students remember the vocabulary word borborygmus? Create a wonderful mental picture of walking into the movie theater and smelling the buttery popcorn and the fact that they hadn't eaten all day. When the aroma hit them, their stomach made a
borborygmus sound.
4. Pictures, Illustrations, Pictographs-have the students illustrate their vocabulary words in a way they will remember them. http://www.vocabahead.com/Teachers/tabid/118/Default.aspx
5. Kinesthetic Activities-have the kids actively engaged. If you are teaching angles in math, have the students use their arms to make acute, right, and obtuse angles. Teach them a song or a handshake, get them involved. Have them come up with a creative way to learn a word. Students came up with a way to learn the three primary types of tectonic plate boundaries: divergent, convergent, and transform by using a handshake.
Let the students be creative and have fun! It could turn into a Gallery Walk or some other interactive strategy.
1. Graphic Organizers-most teachers are familiar with basic graphic organizers. Don't forget there are many text pattern graphic organizers too-Chronological/Sequence, Compare/Contrast, Concept/Definition, Description, Episode, and Generalization/Principle.
2. Physical Models-modeling clay is a great thing to use to make a physical model, but you can use anything. In one of our trainings we were giving unifix cubes, a paper plate, a pipe cleaner, and a few other materials. We had to make something that described our vocabulary words. Have them be creative!
3. Generating Mental Pictures-tell a story to help students create a mental picture. How will the students remember the vocabulary word borborygmus? Create a wonderful mental picture of walking into the movie theater and smelling the buttery popcorn and the fact that they hadn't eaten all day. When the aroma hit them, their stomach made a
borborygmus sound.
4. Pictures, Illustrations, Pictographs-have the students illustrate their vocabulary words in a way they will remember them. http://www.vocabahead.com/Teachers/tabid/118/Default.aspx
5. Kinesthetic Activities-have the kids actively engaged. If you are teaching angles in math, have the students use their arms to make acute, right, and obtuse angles. Teach them a song or a handshake, get them involved. Have them come up with a creative way to learn a word. Students came up with a way to learn the three primary types of tectonic plate boundaries: divergent, convergent, and transform by using a handshake.
Let the students be creative and have fun! It could turn into a Gallery Walk or some other interactive strategy.
Images: http://www.thedigitalscoop.com/the_digital_scoop/2012/02/vocab-ahead.htmlhttp://www.city-data.com/forum/photography/304319-any-bridge-lovers-out-there-2.html
http://education-portal.com/academy/lesson/what-is-daydreaming-in-psychology-definition-disorder-quiz.html
http://teachhighschoolmath.blogspot.com/2011/01/kinesthetic-right-triangle-trig-with.html
http://education-portal.com/academy/lesson/what-is-daydreaming-in-psychology-definition-disorder-quiz.html
http://teachhighschoolmath.blogspot.com/2011/01/kinesthetic-right-triangle-trig-with.html