Vocabulary Building

By David Woo
 How to Learn Words?
• Activate prior knowledge (schemata)
• Combine students’ knowledge
• Systematically organize knowledge
• Analyze words from all angles
• Become responsible for understanding the
word
 Semantic Mapping
• Brainstorm words
• Group them together
• Label them appropriately
 Explicit Teaching of Meaning
• Define words for students

Implicit Teaching of Meaning

• Contextual Analysis
• Morphemic Analysis
• Phonemic Analysis
 Morphemic Analysis
• Break apart words into prefixes, suffixes
and roots.
• Become familiar with common
morphemes.
 Contextual Analysis
• Learn from clues in the text
– Surrounding Sentences
– Examples
– Synonyms; Antonyms
– Definitions

Phonemic Analysis
• Learn systematic pronunciation of words
 Building Accountability
• Vocabulary Squares
• Mnemonic Devices
• Linguistic Scavenger Hunts
• Vocabulary Self-collection Strategy
• Assessment
 Vocabulary Squares
– Write the word.
– Define it (or break
down morphemes).
– Provide an example
(of a sentence or
similar words).
– Use a mnemonic
device.
 Vocabulary Circles
– Select the word
that doesn’t fit and
explain why it
doesn’t belong
with the other
three.
 Linguistic Scavenger Hunts

• Words formed with the • Semiotics – words formed

Roman alphabet yet not with symbols
English.

• Mnemonic device - login