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Why is vocabulary work important in upper grades? Vocabulary is a word that refers to all of the words in a given language. One must know vocabulary words to communicate effectively with others. Vocabulary is also important to reading comprehension because the reader will not understand what they are reading if they don’t know the words on the page. Vocabulary work in upper grades allows students to understand more as they read texts of higher complexity.
There are many different types of vocabulary work that students will use over the years. Some will work and others won’t be their cup of tea. The key is to introduce them to a variety of vocabulary work ideas so they can learn how they best retain the words they are learning.
Keep reading to learn about different strategies you can use in the classroom to make vocabulary work more meaningful to everyone involved.
When learning new words and topics, it’s a good idea to organize your thoughts so you can hang on to important information. When information is unorganized, it tends to be forgotten easily. There are a few simple ways to organize vocabulary words to benefit the student using them.
These graphic organizers allow students to file definitions and thoughts about new vocabulary terms into organized folders. They are easy to keep in binders or folders for later access on quizzes and for studying. The variety of organizers allows each student to use the one they know works best for their brain.
Try these Graphic Organizers with your students and see how well they maintain information about their vocabulary words. You’ll see examples of KWL graphic organizers, word maps, analogy graphic organizers, and other digital organizers that kids will love.
The key to understanding vocabulary words and new words students are learning is to understand the root of the word. When students know what the roots of words mean, they can more thoroughly explore the word and apply their knowledge to other words they come across in texts.
My Vocabulary Roots Bundles are a fantastic way to introduce students to a variety of Greek and Latin roots that are commonly seen in the English language. These terms can be found throughout all sorts of texts studied in upper grades. By understanding these roots, you will see students’ success with vocabulary work soar!
Find my upper elementary Greek and Latin Roots Bundles here:
One of the best ways to make sure students understand their vocabulary words is to immerse them in a variety of vocabulary work. Some sheets will work well for one student, while another may benefit from a different activity. Not everyone learns the same way!
These Digital Activities are a great way to keep students on task and to help them practice their vocabulary words in many ways. While students work, take a look at who is benefiting from what and take note so you can apply that knowledge to later teaching strategies. I firmly believe in providing students with a handful of ways to study something so they can all be successful.
It may seem tedious, and kids may grumble, but with plenty of practice and various activities, kids will begin to memorize their terms faster. They will not only memorize them but understand them on a deeper level and be able to apply their knowledge to the words they learn in the future. This will boost their confidence, and you’ll see their progress with all literature soar!
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