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    Jivey shares ideas and lessons to make literacy accessible for all.

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    Vocabulary

    Enrich Students’ Reading, Writing, and Speaking Vocabulary

    April 6, 2018

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    Teachers are aware that understanding vocabulary is crucial to reading comprehension, but we want students to do more than just “know it when they read it.” We hope our students can adopt these words into their repertoire and improve their writing and speaking vocabulary as well.

    As I mentioned in this past post filled with research-based information, providing a list of words to look up in the dictionary is NOT sound vocabulary instruction. Multiple exposures to the words in context and their meanings, indirectly as well as intentionally, will help students truly understand how to use the new vocabulary.

    HOW CAN I EXPOSE MY STUDENTS TO NEW VOCABULARY?

    I think one of the most important words to note above when thinking about teaching vocabulary is “multiple.” Hearing the word in a mentor text and then talking about it isn’t enough for students to truly “learn” the word. Students must see, hear, and use the new words in many ways in order to really understand it. I shared some ideas of activities to make vocabulary stick in this past post, but I wanted to talk about a few more!

     

    PERSONAL REFERENCE RESOURCES

    One of the easiest and also most important ways to help students understand vocabulary is to relate those words to synonyms and antonyms that they already know. Students can make their own book of vocabulary words (use a composition notebook or even stapled paper) or a set of word cards, where they list synonyms and antonyms of vocabulary words you are learning in the classroom. This should always be a work in progress so that as they think of other related words (or learn them!), they can add it to their personal resource. This book or set of cards can be referenced when working on writing, like their own personal thesaurus!

     

    FLYSWATTER!

    This is a cheap and easy game to play with your students to review vocabulary (because remember, we want students to use and remember the words, not just talk about them for a week and move on to new words). All you need is a couple of cheap, plastic flyswatters (or you can use these amazing swatters Joanne found at Dollar Tree!) and some board space. Write vocabulary words all over the board. Split the class into two teams. Have one student from each team come up to the board. Begin giving clues to the students about one vocabulary word. When a student thinks they know the vocabulary word you are describing, he or she should “SWAT” the word on the board. (OR you could do this with your interactive word wall!) You could even have the “winner” of each round be the clue-giver!

     

    ASK AND ANSWER

    Don’t forget about those listening and speaking standards! This exercise is a great way to help students learn to listen to each other and practice using vocabulary words. If the vocabulary words are specific to a certain topic, this will work better because the students are not going to “stretch” to try to incorporate the words. Group your students with three or four students in each group (any more and they may not all get a chance to talk). One student begins the discussion by asking a question that incorporates a vocabulary word (and it can’t be, “What does demolish mean?” but rather, “What happens to a building when it is demolished?”) to the next student. That student should answer the question, taking as much time as needed to respond, and then ask the next student a question that incorporates another vocabulary word. The other students should nod or shake their head to indicate if they agree or disagree with the student answering the question. They may only speak out of turn if the student answering chooses to call on someone shaking their head to indicate that they disagree.

    For example, with a group of three students, Student A might start by asking, “What would a rabbit gnaw on?” (vocabulary word: gnaw)

    Student B could answer, “A rabbit would gnaw on carrots and grass. Some rabbits might gnaw on small pieces of wood, too.”

    Student A and C might be nodding their head, but then Student C shakes his head when Student B says rabbits gnaw on wood. Student B calls on Student C to discuss the disagreement. Student C says, “Rabbits don’t gnaw on wood. But beavers do.”

    Student B may then argue (and explain/teach!) that he owns a rabbit and his rabbit gnaws on wood because his teeth would keep growing if he didn’t. He could then ask Student C a question using a vocabulary word, and Student C would answer, then ask Student A a question with a vocabulary word.

    Your students will enjoy being able to have fairly open discussions, and they will get more practice with and exposure to those vocabulary words!

     

    ANALOGIES

    Analogies can be tricky to teach at first, but once students understand the setup and connections, it is really great for higher order thinking skills! Students will learn to apply logical reasoning and think critically in order to finish analogies. And of course, these exercises are going to strengthen their understanding of vocabulary. The most helpful tip when teaching students to solve analogies is to have them create a sentence with one side. This will help them think of how to “fill” the sentence with the other side of the analogy.

    For example:     dreadful : _______ : : frightful : pleasing

    Something that is frightful is scary and not pleasing…

    …so something that is dreadful is terrible and not _________.

    Ask students what word would represent something not dreadful or terrible. They might suggest lovely, happy, or wonderful.

    You can pick up the word cards and this analogies page that go along with the book, My School’s a Zoo!


    You can also get more vocabulary activities just like this for your favorite mentor texts in my TpT store!

     

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    by Jessica Ivey 

    About Jessica Ivey

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    • Make Vocabulary Stick With These Five Activities
    • 3 BIG Reasons Why You Should Throw Out The Vocabulary List
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    Welcome!

    Welcome!

    Hi, I'm Jessica, also affectionately known as Jivey! I am passionate about making literacy accessible for all students using research-based strategies. Students learn best through content integration and in-context skills, and my goal is to help you deliver your instruction with these best practices!

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    I shared my TPT story with you back in April... (if you missed it, you can check it out here: ckarchive.com/b/4zuvheh5z24kp)As promised, the next big celebration update has happened!! FIVE brand new units have been added to the Yearlong Mentor Text Curriculum Bundle: Volume 2 for Grades 3-5! www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Yearlong-Mentor-Text-Curriculum-Bundle-Volume-2-for-Grades-3-... (This is the large $99 bundle that covers the entire year with mentor sentences, interactive activities, reading and writing, and vocabulary.)If you own the large bundle, whether it's through TPT, my website shop, or through a course purchase, you will get these FIVE NEW UNITS (valued at $18.75) FOR FREE!! Just re-download your purchase!📔School's First Day of School by Adam Rex📘Our Table by Peter H. Reynolds📗The Widow's Broom by Chris Van Allsburg📙Sofia Valdez, Future Prez by Andrea Beaty📕Vulture Verses by Diane LangI am creating these units to strategically align with the large bundles- you'll find the books chosen in volume 2 cover language skills that didn't have lessons previously, and can also be paired nicely with books included in the original bundle. For example, use Vulture Verses with Animals Nobody Loves!Just as a reminder, YES! I plan on doing the same thing for all of the other yearlong volumes, so don't be upset if you own another volume, or another grade! (And remember, Volume 1 already has its bonuses added!!) I am going in order of when I released them, and as you can imagine, it takes some time to create so many brand new units. 😉If you DON'T OWN the Volume 2 Yearlong Bundle and still want these five amazing book units, you can get them now ON SALE for just $3 each for the next 48 hours! www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Ideas-By-Jivey/Order:Most-Recent#seller_details_tabsThank you again for all your support and feedback over the last decade! Here's to at least ten more!! ... See MoreSee Less

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    Every Tuesday in June and July, you'll be able to purchase one of the MANY individual mentor text units that I've created from my website shop!This is a great way to stock up on some new lessons for next school year. 🎉The first $2 Tuesday is TODAY, and is the unit I created for the WONDERFUL mentor text, Trombone Shorty!Don't own the book? Don't worry! It's on Storyline Online! In this pack, you will receive:★a mentor sentence lesson for the book★an interactive notebook activity to review/teach comparatives and superlatives★seven reading ideas suggested with three activities provided: identifying theme, describing illustrations, and analyzing author's language★one writing idea suggested with a writing prompt given★contextual vocabulary activities★ Activities are also provided as links to Google Slides for Digital Learning! ★ www.ideasbyjivey.com/coupon/TROMBONE2/ ... See MoreSee Less

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    Right?!! Don’t take away my #mentortexts! #pictu Right?!! Don’t take away my #mentortexts! #picturebooksaremyjam #picturebooksareforeveryone 

#ideasbyjivey #teachersfollowteachers #teachersofinstagram #teachersofig #teachertribe #iteach345
    Every Tuesday in June and July, you'll be able to Every Tuesday in June and July, you'll be able to purchase one of the MANY individual #mentortext units that I've created from my website shop!

This is a great way to stock up on some new lessons for next school year. 🎉

The first $2 Tuesday is TODAY, and is the unit I created for the WONDERFUL mentor text, Trombone Shorty!

Don't own the book? Don't worry! It's on Storyline Online! 

In this pack, you will receive:

★a mentor sentence lesson for the book

★an interactive notebook activity to review/teach comparatives and superlatives

★seven reading ideas suggested with three activities provided: identifying theme, describing illustrations, and analyzing author's language

★one writing idea suggested with a writing prompt given

★contextual vocabulary activities

★ Activities are also provided as links to Google Slides for Digital Learning! ★ 

Link in profile! https://www.ideasbyjivey.com/coupon/TROMBONE2/ 

#ideasbyjivey #2dollartuesday #mentortext #mentorsentences #iteach345 #iteach3rd #iteach4th #iteach5th #teachersfollowteachers #teachertribe #teacherdeals
    Enough is enough. I’m sick over this. I’m sick Enough is enough. I’m sick over this. I’m sick OF this. I’m tired of children’s and teachers’ lives being lower on the list than the right to bear arms. Sending love to all my Texas teachers and families. Comments are turned off and yes, removed, because this is NOT an argument. Go to someone else’s post to do that. This is the 30th school shooting this year. This doesn’t happen in other countries, yet there is still plenty of evil there. I’m done.
📸: @theteachingtexan
    When I began creating #mentorsentence resources to When I began creating #mentorsentence resources to list in my TpT store over ten years ago, it was because of the huge shift I’d seen in my own students implementing the game-changing routine. I LOVE to hear other teachers have the same results! 🥰 #fabulousfeedback #ideasbyjivey #teachersfollowteachers #teachersofinstagram #teachersofig #teachertribe #iteach345 #mentorsentences
    Can students think critically about grammar!? YES Can students think critically about grammar!?

YES THEY CAN!

I know higher order thinking skills (HOTS) are generally not associated with grammar, but give it a chance… you’re going to see a HUGE shift in writing abilities and language understanding if you do!

Check out the blog post in my profile for a run-down and a free download to help you get started! https://www.ideasbyjivey.com/higher-order-thinking-questions-for-grammar-and-writing/ #ideasbyjivey #grammar #language #mentorsentences #effective #teachersfollowteachers #teachersofinstagram #teachersofig #iteachupperelementary #iteach345
    My club units have been some of my favorite resour My club units have been some of my favorite resources to create because the planning and creation were guided by the teachers using them!

Because of the input from your fellow teacher community, I know these units will be such a benefit to you, too! Every unit in the bundle has: 

📕a week of plans that integrate multiple skills and subjects
📙detailed explicit lessons, including teacher samples
📒a week-at-a-glance plan
📗digitally converted activities in Google Slides and Forms, when applicable
📘mentor sentence lesson
📕reading and writing lessons
📙integration of other subjects (science, social studies, or social/emotional skills)
📒printables for skill practice
📗at least one other text (poem, article, paired passages)* to integrate with your lessons *this will vary each unit depending on skills covered!
📘short assessments

Check out the latest bundle at the link in my profile! https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/MENTOR-TEXT-CLUB-by-Jivey-2ND-EDITION-for-Grades-3-5-7058941 
#ideasbyjivey #mentortext #mentortexts #teachersfollowteachers #mentorsentences #effective #teachersofinstagram #teachersofig
    Did you know I have a total breakdown of how mento Did you know I have a total breakdown of how mentor sentences can look day by day in your classroom?
Head over to my blog! www.ideasbyjivey.com #ideasbyjivey #mentorsentences #teachersfollowteachers #iteach345 #teachersofinstagram #teachersofig
    Elizabeth Started All the Trouble by Doreen Rappap Elizabeth Started All the Trouble by Doreen Rappaport is the perfect #mentortext to incorporate in your studies of women's suffrage. With this unit, you'll be able to work with students on analyzing primary sources (specifically political cartoons, but also some written documents), identifying supporting reasons and details, writing opinion pieces, and using relative pronouns. This unit is the perfect way to integrate social studies with language arts! Grab it from the link in my profile! https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Elizabeth-Started-All-the-Trouble-Womens-Suffrage-Mentor-Text-Unit-8036259 #ideasbyjivey #teachersfollowteachers #teachersofinstagram #teachersofig #socialstudiesintegration #iteach345 #teacherspayteachers
    This feedback means so much to me because as I’v This feedback means so much to me because as I’ve made my mentor sentence lessons over the last ten years, I’ve put so much thought into the way I craft my units and bundles! Thank you for trusting me! ❤️ #mentorsentences #ideasbyjivey #teachersfollowteachers #teachersofinstagram #teachersofig #iteach345 #iteach3rd #iteach4th #iteach5th #iteachfourth #iteachfifth #iteachthird
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