Vocabulary+Tools

For some students, terminology can keep them from understanding a concept. It is very important to teach what terms mean and have students interact with the words in multiple ways - seeing, reading, writing, hearing, associating terms with images, etc. The websites listed below will help your students learn, understand, and use vocabulary terms in multiple ways.

JC Schools- Jefferson County Schools in Tennessee has one of the BEST websites that I have ever seen. I am most impressed with their TN Academic Vocabulary section. They have taken the lists from the state website and have created lists and word cards for all of us to use! The lists can be copied and pasted easily; the word cards were created with Microsoft Office and can be edited to fit your needs. If you purchase business card paper from your local office supply store, you can print the cards directly onto that paper and punch them out along the perforated lines. Jefferson County has multiple resources, but the Academic Vocabulary section is a huge time saver. Check out the Quick Links section on the right side of their home page; Academic Vocabularyis listed there.

Quizlet - Quizlet is an online flashcard tool. The site offers a free and premium version. I have used the free version for several months and have found it VERY useful when introducing and revisiting academic vocabulary. Create a username, add your lists, choose definitions, and start playing! Students can learn, test, and play games with your lists. Lists, tests, and flashcards are available in print version as well! Students also have the ability to hear the words and definitions being read to them.

Wordle - I have fallen in love with WORDLE! Wordle is an online tool that allows you to type or paste a list of words into a text box and create a word "cloud". The clouds are visual arrangements of the words that you have typed. You can change the font, color, and layout, as well as remove common words and add numbers. Make sure that you have the most current Javaupdate. When you have finished creating your Wordle, click "Save to Public Gallery", give it a title, create a unique username (and write it down), and click "Save". By remembering your username, you can gain access to your Wordles without having to search through every Wordle on the web. Simple copy and paste this link (http://www.wordle.net/gallery?username=) into your address bar and attach your username at the end. It will take you to all of the Wordles that you have created. My gallery is @http://www.wordle.net/gallery?username=LovinTech. I have created Wordles for academic vocabulary, topic discussions, class rolls, and just for fun. One quick rule to remember...once a Wordle has been created, it cannot be deleted! Have fun with Wordle! Your kids will love it!

Spelling City- Spelling City (now termed Spelling and Vocabulary City) is a website that concentrates on the spelling, word meaning, and word usage. Students can access lists that teachers have typed or imported, they can play games and take tests, and their results are saved for teacher use (Premium version only). When a list is created in Spelling City, definitions and sentences are generated for you. If you do not like the options that have been given, you can create your own sentences and definitions! Some of the games on Spelling City include a writing portion where students must type in sentences or paragraphs; if you have purchased the Premium membership, you have the ability to score the writing portion online! On their Teacher Resourcespage, there are lists already created for you that you can import into your profile without any extra work! Lists include homophones, compound words, and lists to accompany many literary works from all grade levels.

Other Sites to Try - Lexipedia - Tagxedo - Visuwords - Wikipedia - great for images of words that you are defining - Vocab Ahead - use for SAT/ACT words or for "Word of the Day" - Eduplace - Choose the social studies book for your grade level; look for printable vocabulary cards.

Academic Vocabulary Resources from a workshop presented on Wednesday, July 27, 2011.

  

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