This post was originally published on my first website on July 23, 2023

Is there an end all, be all approach to vocabulary instruction in the secondary ELA classroom? Here’s my take:

Development of a robust vocabulary is fundamental to fostering strong communication skills and enhancing overall academic achievement. However, what is the best way to do it?

5. Vocabulary in Class Reading and Writing

Effective vocabulary instruction integrates seamlessly with what we’re doing in class. The texts that teachers and students are reading together as a class almost always include rich vocabulary that students may even struggle with and need to learn beforehand. Likewise, encouraging students to use these new words in their written assignments enhances their confidence in applying acquired vocabulary in practical scenarios. Teachers can prompt students to craft descriptive narratives, persuasive essays, or poetry, challenging them to incorporate new vocabulary in context. Additionally, peer editing and feedback sessions provide an opportunity for students to exchange ideas and vocabulary usage, fostering a collaborative learning environment.

But if the only new words that students learn are the ones in the text they are reading as a class, is it really enough? And with our students coming to us from such varying levels, how can we make sure that the one whole class text is at a level that the words are rigorous enough for ALL of the students? Short answer, we can’t. This is my least favorite method of teaching vocabulary because, while it focuses on the skill that students need, of figuring out the meanings and using the words themselves, it just doesn’t do enough. The number of new words learned is too few and the margin for error is too wide.

4. Word Maps and Graphic Organizers

Word maps and graphic organizers are powerful tools to help students visualize and organize new vocabulary. Teachers can introduce word maps, where students break down a word into its root, prefix, and suffix, deciphering its components and understanding its meaning. Graphic organizers, such as semantic webs or concept maps, enable students to establish connections between words and concepts, fostering a deeper understanding of relationships among terms. By visually representing vocabulary, students can strengthen their cognitive connections and facilitate long-term retention.

I have worked with teachers that use this method really well. However, my question, and I think a pitfall that comes with it is, what words are the students required to create word maps and graphic organizers for? Are students creating graphic organizers for every single new or difficult word that they encounter? If so… that’s a lot! Or is the teacher choosing a handful of words within a text or body of content that they feel the student should get to know better. The number of new words that students are able to learn with this method is very limited because, primarily, it takes up too much time.

3. Instruction in Affixes

Learning vocabulary through instruction of affixes can be a powerful and efficient method for students to expand their language skills. Affixes, such as prefixes and suffixes, provide essential clues to understanding the meaning of unfamiliar words. By exploring the roots of words and the impact of various affixes, students can decipher complex vocabulary with greater ease and accuracy. Moreover, this approach fosters a deeper appreciation for word origins and etymology, promoting a more profound understanding of language as a dynamic and evolving system. As students grasp the concept of affixes, they become more adept at identifying and using words in context, empowering them to become more effective communicators and skilled readers and writers.

I’m a word nerd. My favorite class in college was History of the English Language and I still geek out over my final paper for that class, where I analyzed the origin of all of the words in a verse from the Bible–they were surprisingly diverse. However, only including instruction in affixes puts significant limitations on the vocabulary of students. It’s a really good tool but we miss so many opportunities when we say that this is all we’re going to do. I get it, we don’t have enough time for everything, and I wish I had enough time to do this in addition to my number 1 but… I think that only teaching prefixes, suffixes and roots, which many of my colleagues and teacher friends have gone to, is not the best method.

2. Technology and Digital Tools

Incorporating technology and digital tools into vocabulary instruction can captivate tech-savvy students and cater to diverse learning preferences. Online flashcard platforms, vocabulary-building apps, and language learning websites offer interactive ways for students to practice and review new words. Teachers can also use word cloud generators to visually represent frequently used words in a text or classroom discussions, helping students identify essential vocabulary and gain insight into language patterns.

This is one that I could easily get behind. However, there are pitfalls to everything and the one that I have with this is that it is often done in isolation. Online tools for vocabulary instruction are great to use in addition to other methods. But when a teacher says, “I’m just going to assign this video [or this study set, or this word wall, or this word cloud; and then never talk about those words or require students to use them,]” it loses its luster for me.

1. Skilled Based Contextual Learning

Contextual learning is an immersive approach that places vocabulary within a relevant context to enhance comprehension and retention. Instead of rote memorization, students encounter new words in authentic situations, such as reading literature, articles, or engaging in classroom discussions. Teachers can employ techniques like close reading, where students delve deeply into a text, identifying unfamiliar words and understanding their meaning based on the surrounding context. By connecting words to real-life situations, students can grasp nuances and connotations, making vocabulary acquisition a dynamic and meaningful process. How can teachers make this happen, though, without falling into the pitfall that I mentioned in #5.

Enter the year-long Context Clues Vocabulary Curriculum. It doesn’t take a ton of time and it allows for continued practice of the skill of using context clues, not just the memorization of words. This has been my fix and, even though it still has pitfalls–it doesn’t cover affixes to the extent that I would like, it is a highly effective strategy.

Students are given five new words every week. They figure out, on their own, what the words mean, using context. Then they practice filling in the words into example sentences and make their own examples. Finally, they read a short passage and add the words into it, again using context. Over the course of an entire school year, students have been exposed to 150 new words; they have practiced using context clues on over 500 examples and their teacher did not spend an exorbitant amount of class time making it happen. It’s a win-win, in my opinion.

Check it out here.

In a secondary ELA classroom, fostering a rich vocabulary is a transformative journey that equips students with essential communication skills, critical thinking abilities, and a deeper appreciation for language. The best approach is probably one that does all of these things but finding the best bang for our buck (the most accomplished in the littlest amount of time) is all we can do because… we’ve got a lot to do! In the end, though, empowering students with a diverse and extensive vocabulary not only enhances their academic prowess but also opens doors to a world of possibilities and a lifelong passion for language.

How about you? Which method do you use?

Don’t forget to sign up for my email list and get all of the #SoRin2ndary tips — I have a Free Toolkit here!