Creating a vocabulary rich environment in which words are loved, valued, and enjoyed is an important way to help students discover and use new vocabulary. Vocabulary is not something that is memorized and tested, rather, vocabulary should be read, written, discussed, and enjoyed daily. When students see your love for vocabulary and are immersed each day in a word-rich classroom, their personal vocabularies will increase. Here are a few suggestions to help you create a word-rich environment in your classroom. (Continue reading for a freebie for your classroom!)
4 Ideas for Creating a Vocabulary Rich Classroom
Share your favorite words.
Talk about why special words are important and interesting to you. Invite students to share their favorites. (Personally, I love the words gossamer, luminescence, eloquence, ominous, and zephyr-which happens to be the name of the first car I owned.) Discuss with your students why you like these words and the emotions that they help create. Let your students share their favorite words with you and the class. Add these vocabulary to a class chart to display.
Apply sophisticated words in the classroom.
Use sophisticated words with your students. For example, ask students to illustrate instead of draw, tidy, instead of clean, collect, instead of take up. Talk about the din, raucous, or cacophony of noises heard in the hall or lunchroom. My favorite sophisticated word to use with my class was just a happy accident. After reading the word accolade in a story with my class, I now record on the board any accolades and compliments that my students receive from other teachers or adults in our school. My students now know and use the word accolade every day.
Play games and do fun vocabulary activities.
Visit my Upper Elementary blog post on 10 Engaging Vocabulary Activities that your students will love. Find fun vocabulary activities for your classroom.
Vocabulary Spotters
My students love spotting vocabulary words that we have learned in class in their library books and personal books. Encourage this vocabulary search by making a big deal when words are found. Give reward tags for Vocabulary Spotters (freebie found here or click the image below) and students will search diligently for these words.
Varying vocabulary instruction and activities will help keep lessons new, fresh, and exciting for your students. Creating a vocabulary rich classroom environment does not have to be difficult. For more ideas on creating a vocabulary-rich environment in your classroom, visit my blog post at Upper Elementary Snapshots.
Have a blessed day!
