#2ndaryELA Archive
#2ndaryELA is a group of middle and high school English Language Arts teachers looking to share ideas and best practices. We chat every Tuesday night at 8 pm EST using #2ndaryELA. We'd love for you to join us!
Tuesday March 8, 2016
Don't forget: use on responses & replies 2 others, label your responses w/A1, A2, & follow anyone chatting w/us 2night
Welcome to tonight’s chat! Please introduce yourself. Tell what & where you teach. Share your blog link if you have one.
I'm Brynn Allison, chat co-host. 7 yrs teaching HS English & reading interventions in Philly. Blog: https://t.co/cyx1WlfdS8
Leslie from NC. I teach 10th grade English
Q1: What vocabulary do you explicitly teach? From texts you’re reading? A root-based program? A separate vocab book?
A1: Sadlier-Oxford levels F & H. One unit every 2 weeks. Also teach vocabulary in context w/reading
A1: I teach new words as they come up in the texts we are using. I do not use a formal program.
A1: I prefer to teach root-based vocab but last yr was required to use Sadlier Oxford Vocab Workshop
A1: I teach vocab from whatever we are reading. Although now I will be focusing on test vocab. since test season is almost here
A1: I use a separate vocab book that includes short readings for each unit so that students can first see the words in context.
Vocab in context with readings
A1: We do two programs. A root based program a colleague and I created and chosen vocabulary from 500 Words for the SAT.
I love seeing everyone in this chat each week!
Q2: How do you teach new vocabulary words as they arise? Share your strategies.
A2: Index cards. Alliterative sentences, images, poems, mnemonic devices- students choose what matches their learning style
A2: I spend 2 weeks per unit (20 words) reviewing definitions and practicing usage. We then quiz on the words every other week
A1: I teach vocab in context (novels, etc) and also academic vocab (lit terms, drama terms, poetry terms).
A2 Games = big part of teaching vocab. Fun way to get students using words in diff contexts. Some here: https://t.co/IuoadvDpTf
A1: Going to thematic units next yr. all vocab will need to be in context. Would love to hear how others do this w/o being boring
A2: We discuss words as they arise in context, and if it is specific new vocab I have used the Frayer model.
A2: I pick words that we can figure out using context clues
A2" then we'll record the definitions and any other imp. things like prefix, suffix etc.
A2: Vocab posters (each S picks a different word off the list), skits, and sentence games.
A2: Cloze activities are a favorite too
A building word wall and personal dictionaries!
A2: Students could use Kahoot as a vocab review if testing on the new words.
Love "alliterative sentences"! Great idea!
A2 Look at ex of lit devices & talk about impact of word choice. Switch it up & see how it changes meaning.
Late to the lit party! I'm Jennifer, ELA teacher for Grades 7&8 in SW Ontario. Glad to be back!
A3: No word walls yet. No space.
Q3: Do you use word walls in your classroom? How do you make effective use of them?
A3 Instead of a word wall, I have a word tree to save wall/bulletin board space. See it here: https://t.co/oy4lE01lSf
A3: I need word wall ideas! How do you get your kids to use them?
A3 Never used one. Do Ss think it is too elementary or are they receptive?
A3: We use word walls for units, like or poetry, but we don't have an all-yr one. I would looove ideas
A3: I have a word wall but I am not sure how effective it is. It's a good reminder but I'd like it to be more
A1: We use books that teach Latin and Greek roots in addition to the vocab. I also incorporate new vocab as it arises in units.
A3: I thought about it being interactive with matching words and definitions...
Mine are boring...large post its and I record the words as we go. But no printing or laminating necessary!!
Agreed! I am still back and forth on these. Some people really hate them!
there are so many different ways to track words - check the secondary ones on Pinterest!
A3: Word walls need to work for your students and your teaching styles.
I think chart paper is a great way to put up words.
A4: both dictionaries. I like online and phone app dictionaries because they pronounce the words
Q4: Do you encourage the use of paper or online dictionaries in your classroom? What are the pros and cons of each type?
A4 Paper vs. digital doesn't matter to me. More important is students putting definitions into words they understand
A4: I have paper dictionaries in my classroom and students can use their devices to look up words as well.
A4: I have been promoting digital since I know that's what they do at home
A2: Games (dictionary wars is a fave), using prior knowledge of roots, cue cards, using context clues, having a class recorder.
A4 Mostly digital. Ss have iPads so it is quick and easy. No need to flip through.
A4: Using a paper dictionary is an important skill in my opinion. It uses many literacy skills and no auto correct to help.
What are dictionary wars?
A4: We use online, b/c our paper ones aren't thorough enough. :( It's nice to be able to switch to a thesaurus quickly, so pro!
sometimes the thesaurus is more helpful than the dictionary definition
Q5: Share your favourite vocabulary resources that you use in your classroom.
A5 Fav resources are my own, but I recently discovered Vocab Gal, blog with teaching ideas, games, etc https://t.co/EMyk1u7VaO
A5: 500 Vocabulary Words for the SAT by Charles Gulotta.
Amber from TX - late to the party...A5 Marzano's Building Academic Vocabulary.
Agreed. Students like options and understand different meanings w/ a thesaurus https://t.co/Sz0MJcIWPk
sometimes the thesaurus is more helpful than the dictionary definition
A5: Vocab relay race: all the words & def are scattered on the ground at one end of a field & the students are at the other...
A5...The objective: race to the words and definitions, grab a matching pair, and take it back to the team.
A5: The next team member then rushes off to do the same. The team with the most matching pairs wins!
That will be a great activity when the field dries out a bit! Thanks for sharing.
Sounds like a blast when the weather is nice. Are students competing?
A5: Yes, this is played outside.. :)
Yes, they compete against one another on teams.
I asked before you finished explaining. Oops
Next week's chat: Picture Books in the ELA Classroom Guest Host Pernille Ripp. See you on March 15 at 8pm EST
Thanks again for a great chat and to & for hostess-ing :)
So excited for this! If you don't already read blog, you should be!
I LOVE using picture books - so excited for this coming chat. Will follow for sure!!
you won't want to miss this one! https://t.co/ipypgz0UdM
Excited to be hosting chat on March 15th at 7 PM CST - join us as we discuss using picture books in secondary
