Bitesize Research: Evidence Into Teaching Vocabulary

 By Jaya Carrier

I hope everyone’s had a great week - the holiday is really soon now! This week, I was really interested in an article synthesising research and strategies to teach vocabulary from the Chartered College of Teaching. This is particularly relevant as Donna is going to be launching and working with a focus group about communication and literacy in T3. Objectives:

To understand the key evidence into teaching and learning vocabulary. Summary:

• Research suggests that students who have a higher number of words in their vocabulary also know more about the words. This is in contrast with students who had lower numbers of words in their vocabulary, who tend to only be able to use words in very specific contexts.
• Research also suggests that skills required to learn new vocabulary include; generalisation (the ability to define a word), application (ability to select or recognise the appropriate use of the word), breadth (to know the multiple meanings of the word), precision (to apply the new word to all situations correctly) and availability (to use the word in thinking and in writing).
• Based on these research findings, the specific classroom strategies for vocabulary instruction proposed are:
• Introduce new words in everyday language - not using dictionary definitions
• Provide several contexts in which the word can be used
• Students should be given activities that enable them to use new words straight away
• Lots of repetition of the new words
• Examples that use the new words should heighten interest and engagement wherever possible
• Find ways of praising students for identifying and understanding the new words they have learned when they are outside the classroom

How does this impact me and my practice?:

Some reflection questions arising from this that might be helpful to consider are:

• How am I currently introducing new vocabulary to students?
• How am I reinforcing the learning of new vocabulary?
• What are the specific disciplinary vocabulary words I want my students in different year groups to know and use?