Explicit Vocabulary Instruction - Part 2 (Spaced Practice)

I wrote a LONNNG blog post about how I'd been inspired by @positivteacha's approach to explicit instruction of Tier 2 Vocabulary. You can read it here and links to TONS of resources (weekly PP, weekly HW, display, cheat sheets for parents) are here.

This is a short update on the seven ways (so far) that I implement the principle of spaced retrieval practice. You can find a PP with all of the ideas here.

1. Image Prompts

I display an image and pupils write down the tier 2 vocabulary that it links to.

PROs - I'm hoping this employs an element of dual coding, although I'll admit my understanding on this area is still in its infancy.

CONs - More than one word might be associated with the particular image, not sure this is a massive issue, but for my students with fairly rigid mindsets, they didn't appreciate the ambiguity of the fact that sometimes there wasn't just "one right" answer.

2. Pupil quizzing

I gave pupils a half-completed table. I gave the definition, they needed to provide the word. They were encouraged to try to retrieve it (effortfully) first but if they were at risk of not retrieving anything, I popped around and gave the first letter - admittedly, easier for me to do with my very small class sizes. If this still didn't work, they were allowed to look at the word bank - although they needed to put a * on their work to indicate that they had used the display.

PROs - Reassuring pupils that they could use the display if they really needed to did reinforce that this was completely low-stakes. It was less ambiguous than the image version of the quiz.

CONs - Getting the balance between over-cuing pupils and letting them struggle TOO much.

3. Definition Treasure Hunt

I gave pupils a table populated with clues. The clues were often the target word in a sentence which directed the pupils to certain locations within the school and playground. They had to find the location and copy down the definition.

PROs - A loose attempt at using a "mind palace" approach to memory. They loved it!

CONs - Not huge amounts of retrieval going on here, but it did re-expose pupils to the vocabulary a month after first encountering it.

4. Retrieval Grid - @87History's Idea

This is one of those ideas that "took off" on Twitter and I was excited to give it a go. The concept is brilliantly simple: each colour indicates how long ago they encountered something and therefore how many points they would get for completing it.

PROs - Great differentiation. It also provides a clear written record of the words they found difficult so they can re-visit those. My pupils were very motivated by collecting the points.

CONs - What if a pupil comes up with another, "correct" answer that wasn't the target word in mind? I resorted to awarding half marks for this... soft perhaps!

5. Blockbuster

The idea of using quiz show templates has been around for eons, but I was re-inspired by @Jmosley_history's great blog post. I found the template on TES by lauraf69 and it didn't take long to adapt. I haven't used this idea yet but what I intend to do:

1. Demo at the front

2. Set pupils off in pairs (with one laptop between them, I know - more benefits of our tiny classes) to play.

3. I'm lucky to have two TLAs so together the three of us will act as question masters/referees for each pair/small group.

PROs - I hope they'll enjoy it?! I'm pairing them up based on ability.

CONs - The way I've set it up is certainly idea for small classes, but hopefully the idea could be adapted to be done more independently with bigger groups.

6. Quizlet

I am a GIANT fan. It is such a low input/high yield resource. You can find a quizlet set for all the words so far here.

PROs - Pupils like using different types of games so it's quite differentiated. It's independent. By using in class, I'm trying to scaffold for use at home

CONs - Some of the games/tasks are less retrieval oriented than others - ie. the spelling one (still important!) where they hear the word and type it.

7. Peer-Quizzing

Again, I'm trying to find ways to make sure resources that I've made are multi-purpose. I create a termly "cheat sheet" to send home to parents. I have modelled (at a Parent Meet and through a youtube video) how to quiz their child at home. I simply do the same thing in class.