As a teacher and an instructional coach, I cringe every time I see teachers using ineffective vocabulary strategies. Do we want to give students busy work or have them actually learn and remember what words mean?
Studies have shown that the four least effective ways to learn words are:
1. Copying the definition from the dictionary. (This is not meaningful to them. It is a mindless activity.)
2. Using them in a sentence before they know the meaning.
3. Using context clues.
4. Memorizing definitions.
Effective ways to learn words/vocab:
1. Connecting prior knowledge
2. Using Non-Linguistic Representation
3. Having Multiple Interactions with the word
4. It is meaningful.
When we were trained to use NLR and make it meaningful, I could see a huge difference. Students were using the vocabulary words in other classes, using them correctly, and remembering them longer than just for a test. Three years ago, I was taught some words using NLR. I still remember them today; exactly how they were taught to me. Get the students engaged in their learning! This is not about how we learned, it is about how they learn. Just because it worked for us when we were in school, does not mean it will work for students today!
"If a child can't learn the way we teach, maybe we should teach the way they learn!" -Ignacio
Studies have shown that the four least effective ways to learn words are:
1. Copying the definition from the dictionary. (This is not meaningful to them. It is a mindless activity.)
2. Using them in a sentence before they know the meaning.
3. Using context clues.
4. Memorizing definitions.
Effective ways to learn words/vocab:
1. Connecting prior knowledge
2. Using Non-Linguistic Representation
3. Having Multiple Interactions with the word
4. It is meaningful.
When we were trained to use NLR and make it meaningful, I could see a huge difference. Students were using the vocabulary words in other classes, using them correctly, and remembering them longer than just for a test. Three years ago, I was taught some words using NLR. I still remember them today; exactly how they were taught to me. Get the students engaged in their learning! This is not about how we learned, it is about how they learn. Just because it worked for us when we were in school, does not mean it will work for students today!
"If a child can't learn the way we teach, maybe we should teach the way they learn!" -Ignacio