The Power of Words

"Vocabulary development in the classroom is a monumental challenge for students and teachers alike. Students must take responsibility for their learning and think about new words they encounter. Students must analyze new words to see how they fit with other words they already know. I want my students to internalize the meaning of new words to expand the working vocabulary. I do NOT want my students to limit their vocabulary studies to memorizing words and definitions for a test. Yes, students will memorize word stems and their meanings, but they will also use higher-level thinking skills to complete a number of different vocabulary activities that can empower students to take ownership of new words."

-- Helen Husband, former Bowie Middle School English teacher

Routine

* Students will be assigned a new study list every Friday. Students will copy the list into their English composition books.

* Students will be tested over the weekly list the following Friday. If there is no school on a Friday, the test will be given on the last day of that week.

* Parents, encourage your children to study their vocabulary lists some every day. Cramming the night before a test will not contribute to long-term retention.

WOW!

Use virtual flash cards to study for weekly vocabulary tests!

There are also some pretty great games (see "matching" and "chopped")

Check out this fantastic study site!