Vocabulary Strategies

ALPHABOXES: This tool can be used before, during, or after learning. Students brainstorm as many terms as possible for each letter of the alphabet on a topic chosen by the teacher. The topic can be as broad or narrow as you want, and this can be used to determine prior knowledge, keep track of vocabulary during a unit, or summarize key terms before an assessment

ATTRIBUTE CHART: An attribute chart is a tool that can be used before, during, or after learning content. The chart lists items or components of a lesson (characters from a novel, study strategies, shapes, animals, etc.) and characteristics. The characteristics that apply to each item are checked off, and the purpose of the chart is to compare and contrast the attributes of each item

FRAYER MODEL: The Frayer Model is used as a vocabulary tool. A box is divided into 4 sections, each one describing the term in a different way. Common headings are definition, picture, examples, opposites, etc. This is a flexible strategy that intends to show the relational side of vocabulary.

KNOWLEDGE RATING SCALE: This strategy is useful at the beginning of a lesson or unit to assess prior knowledge. Vocabulary terms are listed, and students are asked to determine their own level of familiarity with each word. They decide if the term is totally new, they've heard it before but aren't sure of the definition, they know one definition, or they know the term well and can make many connections with its usage.

LIST-GROUP-LABEL: This strategy is used with vocabulary terms, and the focus is again on relationships versus definitions. Students take a set of vocabulary terms and arrange them into groups based on their own criteria. For example, they might put verbs together in a group or types of polygons might be in the same cluster. Then, students have to label each group based on the common characteristics of the terms in the groups. There are often many possible ways to group the terms - as long as the students can justify the relationship between the terms, they are correct.

ODD TERM OUT: This strategy is used to help students categorize terms and see the relationship between vocabulary terms and concepts.