Academic Vocabulary
I’ve been teaching long enough to realize that
today’s latest and greatest ideas will eventually go away and be replaced with
the BETTER idea
which adds more rigor
and differentiation
and collaboration and
any other buzz-word you can come up with.
Some experts will say the WORD WALL is a waste of precious time. Some experts will show off their successful word walls on
their blog (B’s
Book Love - an expert) and explain how it has worked for
them. I can remember hosting a PD in my
classroom several years ago in which the “Professional” who was there to “Develop Us" took one look at my word wall and stated it was a completely wrong
strategy. Well, it wasn’t the first time
someone didn’t agree with a strategy of mine, and I’m sure it won’t be the
last. But here’s what I know.
I know about this student who sat in my room
reading on a 3rd grade level in my 8th grade
classroom. I know about this student who
was experiencing the regular ed classroom for the first time in their
life. I know about this student who
seemed to have a thirst for knowledge that could never be quenched. I know about this student who took the words
from my word wall and made her own flashcards to use at home without me
assigning it to her. I know about this
student who would work her tail off to better herself. I know about this student that when it came
time for assessments in my room during which I would cover my word wall, she
would stare at the wall where she REMEMBERED the word to be, and it would “appear”
to her. I know about a student whom I
will never forget, who is a success in life, and who used my word wall for its
intent - from which to learn.
Here’s my list of the 88 most important
Academic Words for my 8th grade students to know. It is my belief that they must know the
definition FIRST
and then the application, usage, analysis, summarization, argumentation,
explanation, etc., etc., etc., of the words.
Yes, I spend weeks diving into the ethos, pathos, and logos of
texts. Yes, I spend weeks teaching how
to write an explanatory essay. Yes, I
spend weeks teaching about the symbolism found in poetry. But we also spend weeks simply memorizing the
definitions.
The words and definitions are printed on a
green background because I tell my students, “Green words are good!” I’ve also provided them on a blank background
for you to choose your own color.
P.S. The
very best way to have students memorize words and definitions is through
Quizlet Live. It’s free. It’s fun.
It WORKS!!!
No comments:
Post a Comment