| The World of Words
| | | Every day in school, our students learn new English words. These words are their vocabulary, and they need to keep that vocabulary growing to become good readers. It's not enough to know how to spell a word, or match its meaning to a definition in the dictionary. Students need to connect words to ideas, so they can use them again and again. I hope the information on this page will give families some ideas about how to help students at home. |
|
|
Tips for Growing Vocabulary
|
- World of Words Folder: Each ESOL student in grades 1-5 will have a "World of Words" folder. The directions in the front explain how students will add words to their folders. For each new word, family members can help write the word in their first language, or just talk about it with their students. Family members need to write their names on each page. Students should bring the folders to ESOL every Friday. When students have five new words that they can use in sentences, they can add those words to our class list, and they will earn a sticker for every new word. When they have 20 stickers, they can choose a prize from the prize box in the ESOL room.
- Take a Word Walk: As you walk around the neighborhood, ask your child to name objects and words that connect with them. For example, if you see a stop sign, ask: What is the opposite of stop? Or, What else is usually red? Or you can ask your child to name everything he or she sees that starts with "s".
- Guessing Games: Take turns with your child asking riddles such as: I'm thinking of a word that starts with "r", and it's a place where you keep food cold.
- Flashcards: For every new word in the "World of Words" folder, have your child make a flashcard with the word on one side and a picture on the other. Play games where the student sees the picture and says the word. Other times, have her read the word and use it in a sentence.
- I Spy Game: Help your child understand and use describing words by taking turns playing "I Spy". For example, "I spy with my little eye something that is round and has black numbers." When your child answers "clock," it's his turn to describe something for you to guess.
- Games on the Internet. Check out the websites below for more games to grow vocabulary, and play them with your child! |
|
