Creating a Word-Rich Environment

Classroom Examples of Creating a Word-Rich Environment

Blachowicz and Fisher (2006) suggest that creating a word-rich environment means giving students a wide exposure to words. When that exposure includes a good deal of classroom talk, it helps to develop their oral vocabulary as well. “Word aware” classrooms also include:
• Time to discuss new words
• Displays/presence of word games and calendars, dictionaries, puzzles, riddle books, and rhymes as well as words
• Daily reading, including teacher read-alouds and independent reading
• Teacher modeling vocabulary learning

[Blachowicz, C. & Fisher, P. (2006) Teaching Vocabulary in All Classrooms. Columbus, Ohio: Pearson Education]

Reading Aloud
Trelease says that reading aloud to students increases their comprehension and exposes them to words they may not hear every day. Reading aloud is useful for students beyond intermediate grades.
http://www.trelease-on-reading.com)

Word Walls
A Word Wall reinforces the key vocabulary on a topic. Teachers select new words, technical terms, and words that frequently recur and print them on cards, which are posted on a wall or bulletin board. Every time one of the words appears in the lesson, the teacher reinforces it by pointing it out on the Word Wall.
http://www.justreadnow.com/strategies/wordwall.htm

Personal Word Journals
In personal word journals (or personal dictionaries), students record unfamiliar words and engage in activities to learn their definitions.
[International Reading Association and the National Council of Teachers of English Web site] http://www.readwritethink.org/lessons/lesson_view.asp?id=20