Synonyms

Classroom Examples of Synonyms

Connecting important selection words to familiar synonyms before students read can be an efficient and minimally disruptive way to help students get the most from reading. These connections can be made during those moments before a lesson begins or when students encounter an unknown word during a lesson. Words with multiple meanings may require more in-depth study using synonym webs to make the more complex connections.

[Graves, M. F. (2004). Teaching prefixes: As good as it gets? In J. F. Baumann & E. J. Kame’enui (Eds.), VocabularyIinstruction: Research to Practice (pp. 81–99). NY: Guilford Press.]

1. Target Words
Before a lesson, write sentences containing the target words on the board. Provide quick definitions by using synonyms that students are likely to know or ask students to determine the meaning from the context of the sentence.

[Lehr, F., Osborn, J., & Hiebert, E.H. A Focus on Vocabulary. Pacific Resources for Education and Learning.]
http://www.prel.org/programs/rel/vocabularyforum.asp

2. Synonym Webs
Synonym webs are a type of semantic map used to help students make connections between word meanings. Students brainstorm various synonyms for a word such as “spinning”. The teacher works with the students to determine which words go together, if there are multiple meanings of the word. The words are visually connected to show their relationship and students work to create personal webs in notebooks or on the computer, either alone or in groups.

[Blachowicz, C., Fisher, P., & Watts-Taffe, S. (2005). Integrated Vocabulary Instruction: Meeting the Needs of Diverse Learners in Grades K-5. Naperville, IL: Learning Point Associates.]