Regularly reinforce the new vocabulary by revisiting it – use word games, such as bingo, hot seat and dominoes, or set spelling tests.Give an example sentence using the word – ask students to write their own sentences using the new words they’ve learned.Discuss the etymology of the word – it is useful if you can link the word to everyday language that the students are familiar with.Repeat the word one more time emphasising the different parts of the word – I get the students to chant out loud along with me so they can sound out the words correctly.Break the word down into its parts – I use different coloured pens for this.Write it on the board – it is vital to write it out clearly, and I get students to write the word larger than usual and leave plenty of space around it.Say the word to students using its correct pronunciation – quite tricky at times as a Northerner living in London! 7 Little Words The 7 Little Words app is a vocabulary game that gives you seven different definitions along with lettered tiles to arrange into words. Building Words worksheets are designed to build and enhance your child’s vocabulary and language skills.Strategies to teach unfamiliar scientific vocabulary However, building a greater understanding of the structure and origin of words can support the learning of new vocabulary, and aid understanding of science more generally.ĭownload a worksheet on word parts as MS Word or pdf. It's got 10 free sample lists for K12 students that include math and science words, compound words, sound-alike words, analogies, prefix/suffix words, and SAT prep words. I would also argue this is not always the best way to embed deep understanding of a word and help students become fluent in the language of science. SpellingCity is a word game app designed to help kids learn spelling and improve vocabulary and grammar skills. However, this can take a considerable amount of time and, with the pressure to teach content and concepts, we can feel limited in the time we can allocate to this. So how can we introduce key vocabulary in science? Many of us display keywords at the beginning of a lesson, and encourage students to write down the meaning of the words. It was then that I became aware of how students had to learn the meanings of an inordinate number of words just to be able to access the science they were learning. Cue many hours collating science words and definitions. Throughout my teaching career I have been fascinated by the complex language of science and as a fledgling science teacher I was the KS3 science literacy coordinator. You can adopt direct teaching methods such as: Introducing specific word instruction geared toward increased comprehension and vocabulary. Students' vocabulary grows throughout their lifetime through direct and indirect learning. This quote is a particular favourite of mine as it highlights the importance of the scientific language we use as teachers to explain the natural world to our students. Developing new vocabulary involves more than just looking up words in a dictionary and using those words in sentences. It is a way of talking about planets and stars,’ wrote Neil Postman in Teaching as a Conserving Activity (1979). It is language about plants and animals … Astronomy is not planets and stars.
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