E-Vocabulary

Vocabulary Instruction - Using E-Vocabulary Strategies in the Classroom toc



//**Vocabulary Spotlight**// __Vocabulary.com__ **Word Clouds -Tools for Teaching and Learning** Move over Wordle - this website offer a whole bunch of alternative word cloud Web 2.0 programs/sites that could be used as alternatives to Wordle. Here are some of the alternatives: ABCYa! - Simple Word Clouds without bells and whistles. Just paste or type text and make a cloud. Ideally suited for elementary and middle school students Tagxedo - Can fit word clouds into JPEGs forming pictures out of words Tagul - Word cloud generator with lots of customization options Word It Out - Has the ability to create word clouds based on large amounts of input like student written stories and tables of data to help look for trends.

=//Vocabulary Templates & Graphic Organizer//=

Graphic Organizer: Concept Definition Relationship Chart (3-Column Notes - I Great to use at the end of a Social Studies Unit to review concept words only

Read-Write-Think Word Map Alternative to Frayer Model

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//// || ** Purpose ** || ** Uses ** ||
 * =//E-Vocabulary Strategies/Sites//=
 * www.wordle.net || Creates Word Clouds based upon input. Multiple word use makes words larger. || Pre-Reading (to preview text) and Post-Reading (To Review Main Ideas) ||
 * www.wordsift.com || Makes list of words with word displayed larger with more frequent use. Also makes each word search-able and has a visual thesaurus with it. || Pre-reading (to preview text) and Post-Reading (To Review Main Ideas and to assist in learning the meaning of difficult Key Terms) ||
 * trackstar.4teachers.org || Offers the opportunity to make an educational website or look at others already made || Good review tool and to have students utilize vocabulary in creating live websites ||
 * www.vocabulary.co.il || List of games where students can build vocabulary and have fun while doing so! || Pre-reading to review key terms and post-reading to review key terms. ||
 * www.vocabulary.com || a search engine which gives definitions, nouns, vocabulary lists and word associations and work histories || Students can immerse themselves in unfamiliar crucial vocabulary which gives them all possible context to understand the word ||
 * www.visualthesaurus.com || Gives you a visual map of words that are synonyms and has associations for other words that mean similarly. In addition each word on the web is a link to another web with associated words. || Helps give students mutliple synonyms so that they can relate old vocabulary to new vocabulary. ||
 * www.dictionary.reference.com/studenthandbook || Used to look up vocab and definitions and suggests apps and websites to help further vocabulary and spelling || Can find easy definitions, words of the day, etc. to help enhance student vocab ||
 * www.thefreedictionary.com/add2ie.htm#addon || To easily identify unknown or unfamiliar words while browsing on the web to give you a definition || highlight words in the browser, double click and click "dictionary" to give you the definition ||
 * www.dictionary.reference.com || free dictionary provides all meanings of words || helpful for words with multiple definitions find the one that best suits your needs ||
 * www.merriam-webster.com || Free online dictionary || helpful when typing essays / open responses, as well as analyzing primary sources with difficult vocab. ||
 * www.wordcentral.com || fun tool which provides online dictionary, thesaurus, and rhyming for help with pronunciation. || Great for introducing new vocab, as well as helping ELL's become more familiar with higher level vocabulary ||
 * www.kids.yahoo.com/reference/dictionary/english || Online dictionary and encyclopedia designed for use by kids || Good for online definitions, and can also search the Columbia Encyclopedia as well. ||
 * visual.merriam-webster.com/index.php || Visual dictionary, shows a picture of the word being looked up and gives synonyms as well as pronunciation || Great for helping ELL's learn the words while not needing to rely on word to word translation dictionaries ||
 * www.enchantedlearning.com || Has loads of links to lessons, etc. || Provides "Little Explorers which is both a picture dictionary and links to lessons which correlate in multiple languages. ||
 * babelfish.yahoo.com || Online translator || simple to use translation tool that allows you to plug in words and get that word in other language. Also translates websites if URL is entered ||
 * translate.google.com || Online translator || can translate text or websites by copying and pasting. In addition you can upload documents for translation ||
 * translate.google.com/translate_buttons || Add-on to bookmarks for having an easy translator available || Simply drag the language(s) you want to translate to the URL bar and a new toolbar appears for translating webpages right on the website! (doesn't work on all sites) ||
 * www.microsofttranslator.com || online translator || Copy/cut and paste into the box and choose language for translation, can also read aloud translations ||
 * clickspeak.clcworld.net || Text to Speech (TTS) reader || Allows you to highlight text and then have it read aloud. Works best with Windows XP or Vista and in Mozilla Firefox. Helps improve literacy skills to listen to text while reading. ||
 * www.naturalreaders.com || Text to Speech (TTS) reader || Similar to above but can also cut and paste into website up to 200 characters...downloadable TTS also available and can convert into version to use on ipod/ipad, etc. ||
 * www.cross-plus-a.com/balabolka.htm || Text to Speech (TTC) reader || Can also save files in multiple formats to be used on a variety of different systems and browsers. Must be downloaded. ||
 * www.freerice.com || Website from the World Food Program of the UN which pushes literacy an for each correct answer rice will be donated to impoverished nations/people || Good for teaching vocabulary while also learning about Social Justice issues. Would serve as a great springboard into discussing the UN and what it does. ||

This article provides quality, applicable strategies for teaching vocabulary using Web2.0 technologies. Many of the strategies listed above are explained in detail and how to best make use of each resource in addressing the needs of students.

The following is a link to the content area learning strategies course which outlines how the Malden Public Schools integrates reading and writing strategies into core curriculum. Content Area Learning Strategies