![Picture](/uploads/2/6/5/2/26525594/826783122.jpg?1395679678)
Semantics: Vocabulary Instruction Should Be Hands-On and
Active
When “front-loading” or teaching vocabulary in advance, you will want to keep it engaging. As we all know, kids learn best by doing, so if you want them to understand the concept of democracy, have them act it out. Perhaps they can come up with a dance to demonstrate the meaning of photosynthesis. Use the free paint chips (strips of different hues) from paint stores to have kids show the variations of meaning within one word. Let the kids illustrate words. In putting together a mini dictionary (for a unit, a reading selection, etc.), allow them to write the word in their own language in addition to English. Ohio University’s Department of Linguistics has a page devoted to vocabulary with various links to teacher resources. A link to their website is provided in Links.
When “front-loading” or teaching vocabulary in advance, you will want to keep it engaging. As we all know, kids learn best by doing, so if you want them to understand the concept of democracy, have them act it out. Perhaps they can come up with a dance to demonstrate the meaning of photosynthesis. Use the free paint chips (strips of different hues) from paint stores to have kids show the variations of meaning within one word. Let the kids illustrate words. In putting together a mini dictionary (for a unit, a reading selection, etc.), allow them to write the word in their own language in addition to English. Ohio University’s Department of Linguistics has a page devoted to vocabulary with various links to teacher resources. A link to their website is provided in Links.