Reflection Methods Journal 1

Part 3-Refine

One strategy I use to help students learn content vocabulary is picture flash cards.  Students write the words on one side and draw a picture and/or write the definition on the other side depending on their level of writing development.  Creating images of the vocabulary help students to more easily remember them.   Also, flashcards are portable and students can take the cards home to study them.  Also to help students master vocabulary words, I use word walls and games.  In the “Fly Swatter” game, students take turns standing in front of the word wall and swat the correct vocabulary word when the definition is read to them.  This allows students to use be active and utilize physical responses to help them remember the new vocabulary words.  It also offers an informal way to assess student vocabulary development.  Another flash card activity we use is the “matching” game. Students work with partners flipping cards over until they match all of the vocabulary words and their meanings.  Mimio connect versions of match games can used as well.  Mindmapping is another great way to learn new vocabulary.  Students need to start by writing a vocabulary word on a piece of paper.  Then, students surround the word with other words and drawings that define it. This can also be completed as a whole group activity using the computer with the wordle.net website and classroom projector.  Wordle is a website for generating “word clouds” from text that you provide. The clouds give greater prominence to words that appear more frequently in the source text.

I try to encourage parents to read to or with their children every night by assigning a “read and respond” assignment each night as homework.  Students are encouraged to read to their parents at least 20 minutes every evening and respond on a weekly response sheet.  On my website, I encourage nightly reading with parents.  Parents can help their children learn by listening to them read either in their first language or English, whichever they feel most comfortable using. Even if they don’t read, it is very important to look at books and talk about the pictures.  It is also important to give them paper and pencils, encourage them to write or draw, and look at their homework.