“Content-Area Vocabulary: A Critical Key to Conceptual Learning” (Harmon and Wood, 2008)

1. “Content-Area Vocabulary: A Critical Key to Conceptual Learning”(Harmon and Wood, 2008) Josh Snipes AEDR 518 Week 4

2. Learning new words over time • Main Point: Learning takes place in increments over time • Usage of words in reading, writing, listening and speaking • Exposure in different contexts is best learning • Response: AGREE • Exposure is the best learning tool to introducing new vocabulary • Learn by relating words to real world experiences

3. Multiple meaning words • Main Point: Understanding meaning of words in content area is crucial • Many words have different meanings • Called- POLYSEMOUS • Harder for ESL students • Example: RULER • Math- tool to measure • Social Studies- leader of a nation • Response: VITAL to understanding words • Words have different meanings and understanding the correct meaning relative to subject • CRUCIAL to comprehension

4. Affixes and Root Words • Main Point: Root words and Affixes help EVERYONE • Teaching affixes and root words is ESSENTIAL • Understanding root and affixes helps a student to learn new words faster • Excellent tool is Social Studies • Example: demo & merc • Response: Helps students to learn new words • Process of elimination and educated guessing

5. Word Relations • Main Point: Context helps to learn new words • “Heart of effective content-area teaching and critical to vocabulary building” • Important to understand relation in other words and content areas • Response: This concept is helpful for students to apply knowledge is everyday life • Helps students relate to other key words and feed off each other

6. Vocabulary building • Main Point: building vocabulary is more than typical writing definitions • Building sentences helps, but need more application for comprehension • Students do not have same background knowledge • Response: Copying definitions and writing sentences does NOT work • This application of real life situations is more helpful

7. PEAR • Main Point: PEAR helps students learn through process • Preparation- selection of new words to understand • Explanation- introduction of new words in relevant and easy definitions • Application- meaningful activities to understand and interaction • Reinforcement- Student demonstration of words through assessment (cubing activity) • Response: PEAR is logical, helpful, methodical, and simple

8. RAFT • Main Point: RAFT is an activity to help students comprehend through writing • Students role-play to check comprehension • Role- what? • Audience- who? • Form- how? • Topic- for what reason? • Response: RAFT is practical and helpful tool to comprehension • This is what I plan to use in the future

9. Conclusion • Main Point: Our job as educators are to help students comprehend new words rather than memorize • Multiple instruction • RAFT • PEAR • Affixes and root words • Content area • Response: This article covers excellent tools to help us as educators • Inclusion of these tools would help us as educators and students