PAGE 1OF6 the entire Englishlanguage,eachstudent that whiletheyare notexpected to record definitions.)Then explain editing dictionary as itisactuallyused,bywritingand does. (Theyrecord theEnglish language, moment to describe whatalexicographer When firstintroducing thisactivity, take a Mini-Lesson dictionaries. enter theminto theirownpersonal center,reading and,atthevocabulary or unusualwords duringindependent students gathertheirownlistofunfamiliar definitions.Inthisactivity,dictionary A lexicographer issomeonewhowrites Description relationship betweenword forms. word meanings,andtheyexplore the and reference materials to determine They practice usingcontext clues self-directed andself-regulated learning. asanaspectof students learnvocabulary words,of newlyacquired vocabulary When theykeep apersonalrecord Skills Vocabulary Center(s) or WriteYourOwnDictionary Lexicographer: Grades 4-12 that thesamewords won’tbenewto definition. You maywant to emphasize clues andresearch aword’s correct demonstrate howyoulookforcontext example ofyourownnewword list.Then the activitybyshowingstudentsan course ofthesemester oryear. Model he orshepersonallylearnsduringthe should attempt to record thewords that • • • • • Center Prep speech ifnecessary. to of doaquickreview ofdifferent parts to another.dictionary You mayalsowant fromown words, one theymightvary students are writingdefinitionsintheir different numberofentries.Andbecause willhavea dictionary some overlap,every competitive! Whilethere’s boundto be isnot Writing apersonaldictionary different peopleknowdifferent words. experiences andreading backgrounds, everybody. Becauseofourvariouslife Written center instructions online resources, glossaries,etc.) Reference materials (dictionaries, Pencils orpens Students’ personalword lists Students’ personaldictionaries

LE EN ARNERS GA

GING

© 2018 Engaging Learners, LLC PAGE 2OF6 presentations. Oneoftheeasiestwaysto or group reading, orastheylisten to they encounter themduringindependent habit ofrecording newwords whenever of dailyroutine. Students shouldgetinthe This step shouldbecomeanongoingpart Step 1:GatheraWord List between content. and helpthemmake newconnections how languageisrelated across disciplines to see This willgivethemanopportunity all can beencouraged to addwords from whole-school literacy program, students area. Andifyourschoolispracticing a adapted foranyclassroom orcontent caneasilybe The personaldictionary to comeupwiththeirownlistofwords. independence byencouraging students is thesamebutthisactivityaddsalevelof as aresource whenwriting.Theprinciple used words, helpwithspelling,orto use to engagewithfrequentlyopportunity journals to givestudentsanadditional use personaldictionariesandword Teachers grades intheprimary often Implementation Overview andTipsforClassroom classesinto onepersonaldictionary. or WriteYourOwnDictionary Lexicographer:

Grades 4-12 words. Eachstudentshouldbringhis/her memo bookwiththemto record new asmall of paperineachbookorcarry learners cansimplykeep afoldedsheet were spotted. Olderormore independent words andaspaceto note where they bookmarks thathaveblanksfornew You canofferstudentspre-printed bookmarks. do thisisbyusingvocabulary study aid. is goingto beusedasasupplemental a useful forvisuallearnersorifthedictionary definitions ifdesired. Thisisparticularly Students canaddillustrationsTip: to their they firstencountered theword. students shouldmake anotationofwhere written inthestudent’s ownwords. Finally, adverb, etc.Thenadefinitionshouldbe ofspeech:noun,verb,adjective, part Each definitionshouldincludetheword’s Step 3:Write Definitions new words. glossaries to determine thedefinitionsof resources, context clues,andtextbook Students usedictionaries,online Step 2:Research own word center. liststo thevocabulary

LE EN ARNERS GA

GING

© 2018 Engaging Learners, LLC PAGE 3OF6 trends. depending onyourdiscipline’s vocabulary Feel free to changethisasnecessary to assignthepagesasindicated here. than with letters with varies(more words start letter. Becausethefrequency ofinitial notebook withpagesassignedto each label pagesofa60-pagespiral-bound the schoolyearorsemester, theycan alphabetically. Or, atthebeginningof definitions onindex cards andfilethem dictionaries. Students canwrite ThereTip: are manywaysto create Implementation Overview andTipsforClassroom or WriteYourOwnDictionary Q, forexample), youmightwant (continued) Lexicographer:

Grades 4-12 S

the studentsto finddifferentiated texts. a regular basis.Ineithercase,workwith encountering neworunfamiliarwords on find thatsomestudentsclaimtheyaren’t them allinto theirdictionaries.You might so manynewwords thattheycan’tenter notice somestudentsare encountering formative assessmenttool. You might asagreat Thisactivitycanserve Tip: best foryoursituation. classroom. Usewhatever method works may wantto keep themsafely inthe will misplaceorforget them,you but ifthere’s agoodchancestudents access to theirdictionariesatanytime, obvious advantagesto givingstudents to classforeasyreference. There are themfrom class or studentscancarry in theclassroom withothercenter work PersonalTip: dictionariescanbekept difficult thatthestudents are frustrated. andnewideas,butnotso vocabulary are challenging,introducing themto new All studentsshouldbereading texts that

LE EN ARNERS GA

GING

© 2018 Engaging Learners, LLC PAGE 4OF6 and helpsto create lifelonglearners. developing growth mindsetinstudents of part self-reflection isanimportant many newwords they’velearned.This knowledge!); orsimplycelebrate how (it’s notcheatingorstealing, it’s sharing and definition to theirowndictionary new words; addaclassmate’s word mates. Theycandiscusstheirfavorite to share dictionarieswiththeirgroup forstudents center asanopportunity Occasionallyusethisvocabulary Tip: someone whopractices diplomacy. the adjectiveformandthata they canmake anote that vertices can make anote thatitsplural formis example, ifthey’re defining ofthedefinition. word formsaspart For student lexicographers to includepossible Wheneverit’sTip: appropriate, encourage Implementation Overview andTipsforClassroom or WriteYourOwnDictionary . Ifthey’re defining (continued) Lexicographer: diplomacy diplomatic vertex diplomat

they Grades 4-12

is is

LE EN ARNERS GA

GING

© 2018 Engaging Learners, LLC PAGE 5OF6 social studies,ELAandmusicinoneplace. from science, forallofhisclasses,withvocabulary student iscreating onedictionary Here isanexample ofa7thgrade student’s personaldictionary. Inthiscase,the or WriteYourOwnDictionary Lexicographer: Grades 4-12

LE EN ARNERS GA

GING

© 2018 Engaging Learners, LLC PAGE 6OF LE EN ARNERS GA GING

© 2018 Engaging Learners, LLC