wordstruck or wordstuck : the power of words
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Wordstruck or Wordstuck : The Power of Words. Alice De Dominicis KMWP 2011. Inquiry:. How can we teach student what words are all about? What are some ways to make learning new vocabulary fun and multiply vocabulary at the same time? - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Wordstruck or Wordstuck: The Power of Words
Alice De Dominicis KMWP 2011
Inquiry: How can we teach student what words are
all about? What are some ways to make learning new
vocabulary fun and multiply vocabulary at the same time?
Why is word connotation important in vocabulary acquisition and what are some ways to teach it?
Context of Teaching High school Spanish Levels 1, 2, and 3 Demographics English aptitude Foreign language = vocabulary + grammar
What are words all about? Words are a writer’s tools.
What are your favorite words? Teachers need to model their own curiosity
with words.Ralph Fletcher explains the importance of words, “A rich vocabulary allows a writer to get a richness of thought onto the paper. However, the writer’s real pleasure comes not from using an exotic word but from using the right word in a sentence.”
Pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis
Dictionary use
What are some of the tools the dictionary gives us to help learn new vocabulary?
It’s all Greek to me.Greek and Latin Stems
pandemonium How do stems help you with defining
the word? panchromatic pandemic
Pangaea
What do the experts say?
“Knowledge of Latin and Greek word roots is potentially a very powerful aspect of generative vocabulary knowledge. As students learn meanings for the most frequently occurring roots in core academic vocabulary (such as –struct “build”) and in content-specific academic vocabulary, they may generate an exponential boost in their vocabulary growth.”
Templeton, Shane; Bear, Donald R.; Invernizzi, Marcia, and Johnston, Francine. Vocabulary Their Way: Word Study with Middle and Secondary Students. (2010). Boston, Masssachussetts: Pearson Education,Inc.
Let’s play with stems! Put together as many words as you can
that you already know using prefixes, suffixes and bases (roots).
Write these on a piece of butcher block paper.
Now, see how many new words you can create and write these on your paper as well.
What are some new words you created and what do they mean?
Exploring Words Choose one of your favorite words and look
it up in the dictionary. Note if it has any Greek or Latin stems.
Create a concept map to further explore your word and portray all its possible components and uses.
Concept MapsDefinition
Characteristics
Word/Concept
Examples Non-examples
Playing with WordsHomonyms- Words that are spelled the same
and sound the same but can mean different.
Buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo...
The King Who RainedA Little Pigeon Toad
Connotation of WordsWord connotation is learned as we acquire
vocabulary.
difficult ------- challenging stingy -------- economical headstrong --- determined nitpicking ----- meticulous childish ------- childlike
What I learned. What’s important to remember is that to be a
good writer, you have to fall in love with words first, if not at least pretend.
A rich vocabulary will enhance your craft. Play with words. Before you know it, your students
will be the ones taking notice of new words and new ways to use them.
Language is not fixed. Like desert sand dunes, language shifts and changes throughout time. Be open to using words in new ways