Semester One
Sophomore Vocabulary Jam Session #01 Handout Quizlet (Frequently Misspelled Words)
Sophomore Vocabulary Jam Session #02 Handout Quizlet (Latin -UM to -A Words)
Sophomore Vocabulary Jam Session #03 Handout Quizlet (Latin -IS to -ES Words)
Sophomore Vocabulary Jam Session #04 Handout Quizlet (Latin -A to -AE Words (Feminine))
Sophomore Vocabulary Jam Session #05 Handout Quizlet (Adjectives Checking Their -ID)
Sophomore Vocabulary Jam Session #06 Handout Quizlet (Scent of an Adjective)
Sophomore Vocabulary Jam Session #07 Handout Quizlet (All Hail the Noun Nation)
Sophomore Vocabulary Jam Session #08 Handout Quizlet (Pretty Colors)
Sophomore Vocabulary Jam Session #09 Handout Quizlet (Halloween II)
Sophomore Vocabulary Jam Session #10 Handout Quizlet (Return of the Noun Nation)
Semester Two
Sophomore Vocabulary Jam Session #11 Handout Quizlet (PersonATOR)
Sophomore Vocabulary Jam Session #12 Handout Quizlet (VerbIFY)
Sophomore Vocabulary Jam Session #13 Handout Quizlet (ATE the Verbs)
Sophomore Vocabulary Jam Session #14 Handout Quizlet (ATE a Second Helping)
Sophomore Vocabulary Jam Session #15 Handout Quizlet (ATE a Third Course)
Sophomore Vocabulary Jam Session #16 Handout Quizlet (ATE Some Dessert)
Sophomore Vocabulary Jam Session #17 Handout Quizlet (Test Instructions)
Sophomore Vocabulary Jam Session #18 Handout Quizlet (Language Nerd Symbols)
Sophomore Vocabulary Jam Session #19 Handout Quizlet (It's A Small Word After All)
Sophomore Vocabulary Jam Session #20 Handout Quizlet (Mr. E's Favorite Words)
Design
On the surface, this system seems easy. With a few exceptions, every sophomore learns to spell and define ten words per week.
Discipline and Consistency: With 167 hours to choose from since a student received the words in class, there are no excuses to not find the time. With the vocabulary tests and new list reveal happening on Thursdays, every Thursday, there is no excuse of "I didn't know." The challenge is the consistency of being able to do this week after week after week reliably.
Spelling: Every word is required to be spelled before being defined. The spelling is worth two points per word. The definition is worth two points per word. To get a good grade, you need to spell and define consistently. One cannot be ignored. The recall process seems be different for spelling and meaning. Each student will have to work on both a visual-spatial spelling memory and a meaning memory.
Listening Fluency to Spelling Fluency to Meaning Fluency: All regular sophomore vocabulary tests are delivered through voice. The student hears the word, spells, the word, and writes the definition. The word is only read three times and no context sentence is given during the test. There is no written word to look at to trigger recall. There is never a word bank or multiple choice. Students have to hear it and process with enough speed to get it done before the next word is read. Tests are a constant flow of thought and activity.
Note Taking: Many sophomores have poor experience with note taking and flash cards. During each new list session, every student will make a perfect copy of my notes, and a full set of flash cards. The students create two formats of written study guides to assist with the learning. This is a mandatory process and flash cards are checked before the test is given. Students without flash cards on test day may not take the test on that day and must sit quietly until the new list session begins. Students who make this mistake may attend any scheduled make up day and may take the test for full credit only if they bring their notes and flash cards to the make up session. This is not much of a hassle, but can add up with repeated mistakes. Makeup students have to deal with the makeup test, while keeping up with the upcoming test of a new list. This is an earned stress factor.
Vocabulary Game: Once the class is ready, the big vocabulary game will be introduced and during practice Thursdays, groups will battle against each other for glory and extra credit. Not only do you have to know the answers, but now a speed element is added with time pressure and with a team strategy and communication element. Students will do poorly at first, but the winning teams are those who learn and adapt the fastest.
Finals
After a test, the words stay active. Every word is on the final and every student is expected to remember all that they learn as the year goes on. The whole system is designed so that a student will be able to know large amounts of words and be able to produce them from memory in one sitting. There is no spelling requirement for the final, but having 100 to 115 items to remember is challenge enough. The entire semester's vocabulary efforts are designed to support and build up to handle the semester vocabulary final.