Vocabulary Instruction

Douglas K. Hartman, Ph.D.TE 302

Background:Four Types of

Vocabulary• Listening• Speaking• Reading• Writing

Vocabulary

Comprehension

Reading Vocabulary

Read Text

Read Text

Teach Vocabular

y

Measure Comprehensi

on

Measure Comprehensi

on

Group 1 Group 2

Why did the vocabularyinstruction not increase

comprehension?

What type of vocabulary instruction

does not increase comprehension?

• “Wrong” words are taught.

• Indepth-word knowledge is not produced.

What type of vocabulary words and

instruction does improve

comprehension?• ‘Mature’ and/or ‘Domain

Specific’ words are taught.• Indepth-word knowledge is

produced.

‘Mature’ and ‘Domain Specific’ Words

Types of Vocabulary WordsTier Label Features Utility Example

s

3Domai

n Words

•low frequency•domain specific•specializing language user

highinside

knowledge

domain

isotopelathe

peninsularefinery

2Matur

e Words

•high frequency•across domains•maturing language user

highacross

knowledge

domains

incidenceabsurd

industriousfortunate

1Basic Words

•high frequency•in everyday domains•beginning language user

highin

everydaydomain

clockbaby

happywalk

Beck, McKeown, & Kucan (2002)

Selecting Words: Process

Selecting Words: Quantity

• How many words to teach?

Selecting Words: Quantity

• How many words to teach?

• Depends on -- your students -- your subject -- your materials -- your goals

Selecting Words: Quantity

• How many words to teach?

• “The Magical Number Seven, Plus or Minus Two”1

• 5-10 words (at a time)

1 Miller, G.A. (1956). The Magical Number Seven, Plus or Minus Two: Some Limits on our Capacity for Processing Information. Psychological Review, 63, 81-97.

Indepth-Word Knowledge

Indepth-Word Knowledge

Part 1

What principles are characteristic of instruction that

produces in-depth word knowledge?

Instructional Principles

• Integration• Repetition• Meaningful Use• Active

Process of Using Principles

• Introducing • Engaging

Introducing

• Definitions• --Problems• --Solution: “Explanations”• ----1. Characterize Word• ----2. Use Everyday Language

Example: tamper

• Definition: “to interfere in a secret or incorrect way”

• Explanation: “to change something secretly so that it does not work properly or becomes harmful”

Example: ally

• Definition: “one associated with another”

• Explanation: “someone who helps you in what you are trying to do, especially when there are other people who are against you”

Example: illusion

• Definition: “appearance or feeling that misleads because it is not real”

• Explanation: “something that looks like one thing but is really something else or is not there at all”

Engaging

• Have students use word meanings right away

• Have students process word meanings deeply

Example: Word Associations

• Explanations for: accomplice, virtuoso, philanthropist, novice

• Which word goes with crook?• Which word goes with “gift to

build a new hospital”?• Which word goes with piano?• Which word goes with

kindergartner?

Example: Have You Ever …?

• Describe a time when you might:

• -- urge someone• -- commend someone• --banter with someone

Example: Idea Completions

• The audience asked the virtuoso to play another piece of music because …

• The skiing instructor said Maria was a novice on the slopes because …

• When might you … ?• How might you … ?

Your Turn

Apply These Research-Based

Elements to a Textbook or Trade Book

Indepth-Word Knowledge

Part 2

Review

“Mastering the information and ideas of any language or discipline is largely a matter of mastering the vocabulary used to represent concepts.”

--Doug Hartman

Principle

• Pre-teach words in relation to other words.

Synonyms, Antonyms & Denotation/Connotation

1. Synonyms

2. Antonyms

3.Denotation/

Connotation

1. Synonyms

Synonyms(Cognates)

Words similar in meaning

• revitalize• revive• invigorate• refresh• stimulate• enliven• animate

1. Synonyms

• revitalize• revive• invigorate• refresh• stimulate• enliven• animate

2. Antonyms

Antonyms

Words nearly

opposite in meaning

• revitalize• wear out• exhaust• deaden• dampen• dim• repress

2. Antonyms

• revitalize• wear out• exhaust• deaden• dampen• dim• repress

3. Denotation/Connotation

Denotation/Connotatio

n

Literal meaning & affective/

imaginative meaning

• snake - scaly, legless,

sometimes venomous reptiles

- evil or danger

Homonym, Homophone & Homograph

Sound Spelling Meaning Example

4. Homonym same same differentcalculus/calculus/calculus

5. Homophone

same different differentcarat/caret/carrot

6. Homograph

different same differentbow/bow

7. Graphic Organizer

7. Graphic Organizer

7. Graphic Organizer

7. Graphic Organizer

7. Graphic Organizer

8. Semantic Feature Analysis

8. Semantic Feature Analysis

8. Semantic Feature Analysis

8. Semantic Feature Analysis

8. Semantic Feature Analysis

8. Semantic Feature Analysis

8. Semantic Feature Analysis

9. Semantic Word Map

Word

Feeling Explanation

Experience

9. Semantic Word Map

Word

Feeling Explanation

Experience

malfrat

thug, crook

9. Etymology(The study of word histories.)

DIEGO

Gender: Masculine

Usage: Spanish

Pronounced: DYE-go

Possibly a short form of SANTIAGO, but it is more likely derived from the medieval name Didacus which meant "teaching" from Greek διδαχη (didache).

A famous bearer of this name was Mexican muralist Diego Rivera.

9. Etymology

• FRACTION: 1391, from L.L. fractionem (nom. fractio) "a breaking," especially into pieces, from root of L. frangere (pt. fregi) "to break," from PIE base *bhr(e)g- (cf. Skt. (giri)-bhraj "breaking-forth (out of the mountains);" Goth. brikan, O.E. brecan "to break;" Lith. brasketi "crash, crack;" O.Ir. braigim "break" wind). Mathematical sense was the original one in Eng. Sense of "broken off piece, fragment," is from 1606.

10. Word Analysis

10. Word Analysis

11. Dramatize/Enact

• Act out word meanings through scenarios

• Examples - “run the gauntlet” - “proton, neutron, electron” - “union, intersection” - “avenge, revenge”

Your Turn

Apply These Research-Based

Elements to a Textbook or Trade Book