Vocabulary

 I remember my middle school days of receiving a vocabulary list every week to memorize for a test that Friday.  One or two of the words always stood out in my mind, actually learned, but the rest of those words were always forgotten.  I would always do well on the tests, and even I forgot most of the words, so looking back I wonder if some of the other kids who didn't do as well even retained one word.  When Kids Can't Read touches on this issue and I agree that learning only a list of 5-8 words a week would help students retain them better and they would be more willing to learn such a few amount of words. 
Chapter nine also touched on vocabulary graphic organizers and ways to chart or draw words. This approach seems very juvenile, and every time I was asked to do something like this in school I would get it done in about a minute, not having retained anything.  I think the quizzes at the end of the week, and speaking the words in class is enough, and perhaps having a Jeopardy style game every month to cover the words again.  I love learning and teaching new words, but the classroom approach must be age appropriate and not in a large quantity.


(Chapter 9)