PRe-Teaching VOcabulary
Before students begin reading, it is important to help them understand important vocabulary terms that they will need in order to successfully read the passage. According to k12reader.com, one of the most effective methods of helping children learn new vocabulary words is to teach unfamiliar words used in a text prior to the reading experience. With this method students preview reading materials to determine which words are unfamiliar and then these words are defined and discussed. According to page 19 of Dr. Mimi Miller and Nancy Veatch in their 2011 book entitled Literacy in Context (LinC): Choosing Instructional Strategies to Teach Reading in Content Areas for Students Grades 5-12, There are many ways that vocabulary can be pre-taught to students. The key is to choose a variation that makes students aware of the terms that are essential to their understanding of the reading or the lesson before it begins. Vocabulary Note Cards can be used to pre-teach vocabulary so that students will develop knowledge of the word prior to being exposed to it. |
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Miller and Veatch's 2011 Guide to:
Pre-Teaching Vocabulary
Choose terms that are essential to understanding the text. Then, for each term:
After the teacher introduces the new terms, students complete a Pre-Teaching Vocabulary Chart. This chart can then be used as a reference when students are engaged during the reading and post-writing activities associated with the text passage.
- Pronounce the new word and have students repeat.
- Provide an explanation of the word or a synonym.
- Rephrase the explanation, asking students to complete the statement by substituting the new word aloud.
- Show a visual image of the word, if possible. This can be effectively done using a PowerPoint® presentation.
- Check for beginning understanding of the word by asking questions to assess students. This can be done whole group as students respond with thumbs up (partial concept knowledge/recognition) or thumbs down (no association yet).
- Ask students to generate their own examples. Students can generate these examples with a partner, and then report back to the group.
After the teacher introduces the new terms, students complete a Pre-Teaching Vocabulary Chart. This chart can then be used as a reference when students are engaged during the reading and post-writing activities associated with the text passage.
Examples and Resources
ExamplesVideo Example: How to Teach Challenging Vocabulary
- Students restate the definition in their own terms Ideas for Pre-teaching Vocabulary - Role Playing, gesturing, objects, drawings Word Wall Ideas for Math - Ideas to get you started |
ResourcesPre-teaching Vocab
Teacher Blog Activities for Pre-teaching Vocabulary From Achieve 3000 Reading Rockets Detailed with examples Word Map Template Pdf Version |
Resources
Achieve3000. (2015). Activities for pre-teaching vocabulary. Retrieved from http://doc.achieve3000.com/article/Pre-teaching_Vocabulary_Worksheet.pdf
Caramagno, S. (2012). Vocabulary word map lesson. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ipqmdH-LxUQ
Colorín Colorado. (2007). Vocabulary development. Retrieved from http://www.colorincolorado.org/educators/teaching/vocabulary/
Wahlstrom, D. Word wall ideas. Retrieved from https://datadeb.files.wordpress.com/2009/11/001-word-wall-post-for-blog.pdf
Institute of Educational Services. (2015). Pre-teaching vocabulary (Fourth-grade class). Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U3UpGzC3GEE
Miller, M., & Veatch, N. (2011). Literacy in context (LinC): Choosing instructional strategies to teach reading in content areas for students grades 5-12. Boston: Pearson.
Ontario Institute for Studies in Education. (2011)Word cheers: A word wall activity. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W9mWCLJAQ5o
Reading Rockets. (2014). Word maps. Retrieved from http://www.readingrockets.org/strategies/word_maps
Roberts, R. (2012). Should we pre-teach vocabulary before reading- and, if so, how? Retrieved from http://elt-resourceful.com/2012/03/30/should-we-pre-teach-vocabulary-before-reading-and-if-so-how/
Teaching Channel. (2013). Learning Difficult Vocabulary. Retrieved from https://www.teachingchannel.org/videos/teaching-hard-vocabulary-words
Achieve3000. (2015). Activities for pre-teaching vocabulary. Retrieved from http://doc.achieve3000.com/article/Pre-teaching_Vocabulary_Worksheet.pdf
Caramagno, S. (2012). Vocabulary word map lesson. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ipqmdH-LxUQ
Colorín Colorado. (2007). Vocabulary development. Retrieved from http://www.colorincolorado.org/educators/teaching/vocabulary/
Wahlstrom, D. Word wall ideas. Retrieved from https://datadeb.files.wordpress.com/2009/11/001-word-wall-post-for-blog.pdf
Institute of Educational Services. (2015). Pre-teaching vocabulary (Fourth-grade class). Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U3UpGzC3GEE
Miller, M., & Veatch, N. (2011). Literacy in context (LinC): Choosing instructional strategies to teach reading in content areas for students grades 5-12. Boston: Pearson.
Ontario Institute for Studies in Education. (2011)Word cheers: A word wall activity. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W9mWCLJAQ5o
Reading Rockets. (2014). Word maps. Retrieved from http://www.readingrockets.org/strategies/word_maps
Roberts, R. (2012). Should we pre-teach vocabulary before reading- and, if so, how? Retrieved from http://elt-resourceful.com/2012/03/30/should-we-pre-teach-vocabulary-before-reading-and-if-so-how/
Teaching Channel. (2013). Learning Difficult Vocabulary. Retrieved from https://www.teachingchannel.org/videos/teaching-hard-vocabulary-words