Vocabulary

Katherine O’Shea & Chloe Poltonavage

What is vocabulary?
● “The stock of words used by or known to a particular
people or group or persons” (Flexner, 2003)
● Vocabulary is the glue that holds stories, ideas, and
content together, making comprehension accessible for
children (Rupley, Logan. & Nichols, 1998/99, p. 339)
● Words are the captions that describe our life experiences
(Reutzel & Cooter, 2011)
DID you know?
● Except for the economically deprived or children with
learning disabilities, most children acquire a vocabulary
of over 10,000 words during the first 5 years of their
lives. (Smith, 1987)
● Most students will learn between 2,000 and 3,600 words
per year. (Clark, 1993)
● Vocabulary knowledge accounts for 80% of of the variance
in students’ reading comprehension test scores.
Four types of vocabulary
● Listening Vocabulary - largest group; words we hear and
understand
● Speaking Vocabulary - second largest group; words we use
when we speak
● Reading Vocabulary - words we identify and understand
when we read
● Writing Vocabulary - words we use in writing
Levels of vocabulary words
● Tier 1: Word meanings that are commonly learned in
conversation and media; no instruction needed
● Tier 2: Word meanings are “sophisticated synonyms” for
basic speaking vocabulary; relatively frequent in the
speaking vocabularies of well-educated persons
○ EX) gigantic vs big; fortunate vs lucky
● Tier 3: Word meanings that are learned within highly-
specialized knowledge domains such as botany, geography,
medicine, and physics

(Table 6.2, Reutzel & Cooter, 218)

In our classroom:
Reading Backpack:

- Newspaper Word Race

- Send home:
- Newspapers
- Copies of target words we want to see the student seeing and
saying
- An egg timer
- Two highlighters
- Directions
- Easy & inexpensive
- Interaction at home / more practice

(Reutzel & Cooter, 245)

Activity one - vocabulary on the move
Read Ruby the Copycat as a class.

Assign each student a headband and hand out handout.

Explain directions.

Could use with science terms or social studies.

(Can be adapted to any grade level)

Activity two - plate activity
Explain how important synonyms are - specifically in tier 2
words.

Place paper plates upside down on table.

Have students find the synonyms and matches for the word.

Could use in math, science, social studies.

(Can be adapted to any grade level)

Using nonsense words to improve vocabulary
Runny Babbit
Activity three - shaving cream activity
Give each table a can of shaving cream

Go through Runny Babbit and point out “sight words”

Have students write these words

Repetition is key

Have students come up with their own synonyms and antonyms

for the words