Learning new concepts and vocabulary words is a critical part of language development. Memorizing words and their definitions is not an effective instructional strategy for long-term or permanent acquisition of words and their meanings. Marzano, Pickering, and Pollock (2001) concluded from their review of research on vocabulary instruction that direct, systematic vocabulary instruction is “one of the most important instructional interventions that teachers can use…” (p. 124). They suggested a five-step process that allows for multiple exposures of new vocabulary words and phrases:
1. Explain/describe briefly the new term or phrase.
2. Present a nonlinguistic representation of the new term or phrase, such as graphic organizers, mapping, word trees, diagrams.
3. Ask students to explain or describe what they think the term means.
4. Ask students to create their own nonlinguistic representation of the new term.
5. Periodically ask students to review the accuracy of their explanations and representations as the read the text.
Instruction can be given verbally (signed/spoken), visually (using some form of nonlinguistic representation), or dramatically (presenting a dramatic enactment that the students see or in which they participate). These three forms of instruction are all effective, however, dramatic instruction is the most effective, followed by visual and then verbal instruction. A comprehensive presentation to develop concepts/vocabulary should include all three forms, when possible.
The CVD links on the left describe some strategies for concept/vocabulary development that are effective with most students. In the section on Language Units which is also at this website, two more strategies for concept development with very young children are described. In the section on Reading Strategies also included in this website, four additional strategies are described.
References:
Marzano, R.J., Pickering, D.J., & Pollock, J.E. (2001). Classroom instruction that works: Research-based strategies for increasing student achievement. Alexandria, VA: Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development. |
