Vocabulary can be fun not daunting to teach
Does anyone remember learning vocabulary words getting a list of words and copying the definitions out of the back of a book or dictionary? It was BORING! There was no engagement and many of the times I memorized the words just for the test. I have learned that teaching vocabulary words can be fun and engaging. With my students with disabilities that I teach, I always incorporate multi-sensory learning. I always start my lesson by reviewing and modeling how to read the words to the students. Then they get their pop-its and we pop how many syllables are in each word. We discuss are there any prefixes or suffixes, what are the syllable types, which I have hand motions for, for another day. I then have them break apart the syllables and write these on magnetic tiles with expo markers or you can use index cards and markers. Each day I pick a new activity. On day two, I have the students match pictures to the word and we discuss what they mean. Day three, I have them play a matching game with the definitions and words, and the last day they use the words in context by filling in blanks with sentences. My students always love the games and the building of the words the best.
