~ Chapter 11 Effective Vocabulary Strategies for English Learners in Middle School Classrooms Suhua Huang, Ph.D. Midwestern State University Marcie Reynolds, Ph.D. Tarleton State University Abstract A significant amount of research indicates that vocabulary plays a critical role for English Learners (ELs) in developing reading skills. This paper provides a variety of vocabulary strategies that classroom teachers can use on a daily basis. Effective strategies, such as student-created videos, literacy circle groups, teacher read-alouds, word sorting games, and word play are applicable for ELs across different content areas. Keywords: vocabulary, English learners, middle school ____________________ Introduction Research illustrates that vocabulary knowledge places a particular burden on ELs’ From 2003 to 2013, the number of ELs reading comprehension and is a significant in U.S. public schools grew from 4.1 million predictor for the acquisition of writing skills students to 4.4 million students (National Center (Calderon et al., 2005). Limitations with for Education Statistics, 2015a). According to vocabulary presents a major obstacle for ELs recent data, approximately 5 million public with learning the English language (Hart & school students in the United States participate Risley, 2003; Snow, Barners, Chandler, in school-based English as Second Language Goodman, & Hemphill, 2000). Given ELs’ (ESL) programs (Kids Count Data Center, 2015; critical need for vocabulary development in Sanchez, 2017). Of this group, 2.8 million support of academic literacy, the goal of this students have insufficient spoken English skills paper is to describe engaging and effective ways (National Clearinghouse for English Language to promote word study across different content Acquisitions, 2010). Currently, nearly 70% of areas. ELs read at below basic proficiency levels (National Assessment of Educational Progress, Strategies Across Disciplinary Areas 2011) and perform 20% to 50% below native English speakers on standardized assessments Oral Language Practices for reading (Menken, 2010; National Center for Education Statistics, 2015b). Exploring which Oral expression and word knowledge is reading strategies are most effective in working enhanced when teachers give middle school ELs with ELs is highly warranted. the opportunity to use new words or practice Texas Association for Literacy Education Yearbook, Volume 5: Connections in the Community: Fostering Partnerships through Literacy ©2018 Texas Association for Literacy Education ISSN: 2374-0590 online 89 talking about words they have learned. glow?” I use a revolution cream to Engaging in oral language practice activities improve the damaged and blemished moves beyond traditional instructional practices, skin. The cream can reduce your deep such as rote definition and memorization. crease lines on the forehead overnight. Instead, students are actively engaged in the It will contour and firm your skin and learning process, increasing their vocabulary fight for gravity fitness. If you are knowledge, oral skills development, and interested in the incredible skill care confidence levels. Suggested oral language product, please call the toll number 1- practices for middle school ELs include student- 888-8888. created I-movie videos, show-and-tell, and Student-created I- movie videos projects author’s chair. improve oral language skills with a variety of academic words and create a positive Student-created I-movie videos. collaborative learning environment. Technology applications are excellent tools to support oral English language skills and Show-and-tell. For show-and-tell, the vocabulary usage in different contexts (Peregoy teacher selects about 25 words across content & Boyle, 2017; Tompkins, 2018). Technology areas. There should be enough variety so that and collaboration strategies can be easily each student selects a different word. For combined when students work in small groups example, a word list might include mean, to create a short 15-20 minute video. First, the repeating decimal, complex fraction, teacher divides the class into small groups of condensation, economics, reprimand, and three to five students. Then, the teacher gives trivial. The teacher writes the selected words on each small group several academic vocabulary index cards and places them in a vocabulary jar. words from different content areas. Next, small The teacher then selects five students to choose group members use these words to create a a word from the vocabulary jar. Either at the storyboard for their movie. Using their front of the room or at their desks, each student completed storyboard as a guide, students explains the meaning of their word, while the compose a draft of a movie script. After small rest of class attempts to guess the word. For group members revise and edit their movie example, a student might explain the meaning of scripts according to teacher or peer-group the word mean in the following manner: feedback, they may then create their video using The word has four letters. The word a moviemaker technology application, such as I- starts with the letter “m.” The word can Movie or Windows Movie Maker. An overview mean “equal” in math. But, the word and example of a student-created I-Movie is can have a negative connotation when it provided below. describes someone as not nice or polite. What do you think the word will be? A small group of middle school ELs The teacher should repeat this activity created a television commercial advertisement throughout the day or week until each student entitled “Revolution.” The small group has had a turn. Show-and-tell could occur employed a wide range of vocabulary, such as before transitions, after transitions, or as a daily blemish, glow, damage, crease, contours and warm-up activity. firm, and hydrate: I am a super model. I am very famous Alternatively, the teacher divides the in the USA. You can find me on many class into small groups of three to five students. cover pages of well-known woman The teacher provides each small group with their magazines. I am often being asked, own vocabulary jar that contains about 10 words “Why your skins looked like a baby? across content areas. Working in their small Why does your facial skin look so groups, students take turns selecting a word and Texas Association for Literacy Education Yearbook, Volume 5: Connections in the Community: Fostering Partnerships through Literacy ©2018 Texas Association for Literacy Education ISSN: 2374-0590 online 90 explaining the meaning while the other small identify the correct word. The teacher should group members try to guess the word. After continue this activity throughout different students use all 10 words, small group members subject areas each day and provide each student work together to rank the words from easiest to with a turn in the author’s chair. most difficult. Lastly, each small group shares and explains their word ranking to the class. Teacher Read-Alouds Author’s chair. Author’s chair is a Informational books contain many popular activity used to support classroom infrequent and rarely used words, almost twice literacy among younger learners (Cunningham as many as occur in everyday conversations & Allington, 2003) and can be adapted to among adults (Hickman, Pollard-Durodola & support oral language proficiency among middle Vaughn, 2004). Thus, it is essential that middle school ELs. First, the teacher displays a list of school ELs learn to use context clues as a way to vocabulary words that are connected with help decipher unknown word meanings while different content areas, such as proportion, reading. To support the development of evaporation, condensation, and expedition. academic vocabulary, the teacher should Students then take turns sitting in an author’s consider using children’s literature that supports chair and describing the meaning of one word on instruction across different content areas, such as the list either verbally or nonverbally. For the following texts for math and science example, a student might explain the meaning of instruction: Math Curse by Jon Scieszka and the word evaporation as follows: Lane Smith, Science Verse by Jon Scieszka, and The word has 11 letters and starts with One Grain of Rice by Demi. Within selected the letter “e.” The word describes the texts, the teacher should identify words that are process of turning a liquid into vapor. important and useful for students (see Table 1). We often see the dew on the grass in the Important words are those that appear frequently morning. But, the dew will be gone on literacy tests, and useful words are those that when the sun comes out. What word I occur more often in casual speech (Beck, am? McKeown, & Kucan, 2002). After the student describes the meaning of their selected word, the rest of the class tries to Table 1 Children’s Literature for Math Instruction and Examples of Important and Useful Words Book Title and Author Important Words Useful Words Math Curse carbonate, evaluation, nucleus, electric appliance, water cycle, Jon Scieszka & Lane Smith ration calories Science Verse lunatic, estimate fractions, division Jon Scieszka One Grain of Rice ratio doubles Demi Texas Association for Literacy Education Yearbook, Volume 5: Connections in the Community: Fostering Partnerships through Literacy ©2018 Texas Association for Literacy Education ISSN: 2374-0590 online 91 For example, the book Math Curse acquisition and comprehension. First, the includes math vocabulary terms, such as ratio, teacher reads a text aloud to students without fraction, and division. Prior to reading the book showing any illustrations. Following the aloud, the teacher should display these words for reading, the teacher asks students to select three the students and instruct students to snap their key words from the text. The teacher then fingers when they hear the words during the works with students to create a graphic organizer teacher read-aloud. During the teacher read- that helps them visualize the vocabulary words aloud, the teacher stops reading when students (see Table 2). On the top third of a blank sheet snap their fingers.