Vocabulary Tips from Dr. Marzano

The following tips are listed from Dr. Marzano's book Vocabulary Games for the Classroom by Linday Carleton and Robert J. Marzano, 2010.  Each are summarized briefly in this article but expanded more fully in the book.  The list is long and your questions aren't answered here.  Please read the article.

• Use data from student responses during game play to guide a three-step process of direct vocabulary instruction. The three-step process helps teachers apply direct instruction postgame to improve student understanding of specific terms.
• The first two steps of the three-step process involve (1) identifying difficult vocabulary terms and (2) clarifying their definitions
• The last step of the three-step process involves students amending previous entries of a vocabulary notebook—a space for students to track understanding of specific terms as definitions are learned and expanded upon.
• To be effective, vocabulary games should be based on relevant topics that students understand.
• When creating new vocabulary games, each game should be constructed into five categories.
• Classroom games can be adapted for younger students in the following ways:
• Ideally, after each game is played, students should review the terms in their vocabulary notebooks that were addressed in the games.
• Only teachers know their class well enough to decide how much competition is appropriate.
• Teachers should identify what students know and do not know about the difficult terms.
• There is an effective six-step process for teaching new terms.
• Direct vocabulary instruction is fundamental to effective teaching.
• Note:  Data collected as far back as 1941 indicates there is roughly a 6,000-word gap between students at the 25th and 50th percentiles on standardized test in grades 4–12.

Have you used any of these tips in your classroom?  What have worked well?  Not so well?  What changes might you make the next time?  After reading the article, share your thoughts in the Comments section below.

Tips From Dr. Marzano - Vocabulary Games for the Classroom.  12.14.  Marzano Research
http://www.marzanoresearch.com/resources/tips/vgftc_tips_archive