I Heart Words!

Here is an excerpt from an article I found on scholastic.com about the importance of vocabulary:


Why is vocabulary s-o-o important?
Vocabulary is critical to reading success for three reasons:

1. Comprehension improves when you know what the words mean. Since comprehension is the ultimate goal of reading, you cannot overestimate the importance of vocabulary development.
2. Words are the currency of communication. A robust vocabulary improves all areas of communication — listening, speaking, reading and writing.
3. How many times have you asked your students or your own children to “use your words"? When children and adolescents improve their vocabulary, their academic and social confidence and competence improve, too.

An important role for the classroom teacher of any subject is to try and work as many rich and diverse words into daily lessons and conversations as they can.  As explained above, the more words students know, the better readers and communicators they become.  In order to help increase vocabulary, I have a 'word wall' in my classroom.  One wall is devoted to some of the most commonly used words on the SAT:

Another wall is devoted to words that we have started using throughout our units of study in US History:

I try and choose words that aren't necessarily related to content, rather they are words that help the students interpret and understand the questions and ideas that are being asked of them.  All of the words seen in the picture above have been words they've seen in their readings and on homework, quiz, and exam questions.  For example, one of the questions on their homework for tonight is to explain how the US acquired the Louisiana Purchase as well as the significance of this purchase.

Having the word wall acts as a reminder to actively seek out and use new words throughout all aspects of my curriculum.  Hopefully by doing this my students will be better equipped to understand and comprehend the items they hear and read in the world around them.