Word Turnpike

Strategies
  • Download WORDO, a game based on the BINGO game. Give students a Wordo Card filled with Word Wall words (each card should be different).  Call out a word and have students cover it with a scrap of paper or cut paper squares.  The first one to cover a row across, down, or diagonally, shouts WORDO.
     
  • Learning Word Walls (Cunningham, 1990)

Location: Where the kids can see it
Content: Pictures, phrases, 4x6 index cards, color code words that share same conceptInclude essential words
Add no more than 5 words per week
Put words where everyone can see them
Practice words daily (chanting, writing, and moving), make sure words are spelled correctly.

  • Guess the Word (Dr. Sharon H. Faber, 2006)

Students number papers 1-5. Give 5 clues focusing on one word.
1st clue: It is a word on the Word Wall.  After each clue have students guess the word from the word wall.  By the 5th clue students should be able to guess the word.

  • Sorts (Dr. Sharon H. Faber, 2006)
    Decide on the type of sort.
    Write 10-15 words, formulas, etc. on index cards.
    Students sort the words in different piles depending on the directions you give them.

Examples:  Sort by definition, Sort by alike/different, Sort by alphabetical, Sort sequentially

Open Sort – Teacher provides only the word, students determine the sort category.
Closed Sort – Teacher provides the categories for the sort.
Speed Sort – A timed sort
Blind Sort – The teacher calls out the words, the student point to the correct category listed on the overhead or a worksheet.
Writing Sort – Students have categories on a worksheet and writes words in proper categories as the teacher reads the words out.
 
Academic Vocabulary is an initiative of Tennessee's Department of Education. The goal of this project is to provide teachers a list of common terms or phrases aimed at improving vocabulary development of students in Tennessee. Although there is no single best way to teach terms and phrases, Dr. Marzano's research and theory on vocabulary development does point to a few generalizations that provide strong guidance. Academic Vocabulary Games is dedicated to the sixth step in that process by providing a collection of games and activities designed to review and strengthen vocabulary development.
 
Vocabulary Web (Johnson and Perason, 1978) is a mapping strategy that builds on students' prior knowledge to lead them toward relationships with new words or terms.  Students develop this relationship instead of learning isolated definitions. 

(Dr. Sharon H. Faber, 2006)

  1. Present a concept to students.  Have them brainstorm in groups to develop words that are related to the concept.
  2. On the board, list their words and add any words not included.
  3. Help students develop definitions of the new words.
  4. Give each group a Vocabulary Web worksheet.
  5. Instruct them to put the focus concept in the center of the web.
  6. Students take key words and concepts from the list and radiate them from the central concept, grouping them in categories. 
DISSECT (a word analysis graphic)
 
Password

The PowerPoint game is simple to setup.  The teacher types a vocabulary word on each slide in the subtitle textbox.  Then press F5 on the keyboard to start the game.  Setup directions are found on slide 2. Download Password Game