G.A.M.E.S: Gaining Academic
Vocabulary Mastery Empowers
Success
Gloria Palomo
Our Objectives…
Content
Language
• Analyze effective
teaching
strategies for
vocabulary
building in fun
ways for children
• Discuss the
features of
successful
implementation of
games to use for
vocabulary
building
Vocabulary
Building
How do you build vocabulary in your
classroom?
Response: I build vocabulary in my
classroom by ...
Importance of
Vocabulary Instruction
• The learning of any topic is rooted in mastery of
the terms related to it.
• There is a direct link between vocabulary and
understanding of the content.
• A student’s vocabulary is directly related to
his/her results on standardized tests.
(Carleton, L. & Marzano, 2010)
Tier 3 Words
• These words are content-specific.
• They are usually the bolded words in books and textbooks.
• These words tell us immediately what discipline is being studied.
Sample Tier 3 Words
Rectangle
Germ
Government
Personification
Denominator
Atom
Bylaws
Shifty Character
Balanced
Equation
Osmosis
Congressional
Districts
Cause and effect
Divide
Power surge
Divide and
conquer
Inference
Calderon & Minaya-Rowe, 2011)
Tier 2 Words
Sample Tier 2 Words
Phrasal clusters
Stored energy, run your hand
over, over the course of
Idioms
Break a leg, it’s over your head, I
know what you mean…
Polysemous
Trunk, power, cell, left, right
Processing
Apparent, assortment, basis,
crucial, effect, allow
Connectors
Subsequently, although, as well
as, however, as a result of
Sophisticated
Shuddered, scrutiny, celestial
Calderon & Minaya-Rowe, 2011)
Tier 1 Words
• They may be the hardest to identify for instruction
because we may not be able to guess ahead of time
which ones particular ELLs know or need.
Sample Tier 1 Words
Spelling
Tough, phrase, highlight
Pronunciation
Sell/cell, ship/chip
Background knowledge
Skyscraper, blender, parka
False cognates
Embarrassed, exit, success
Calderon & Minaya-Rowe, 2011)
Where to begin...
• TEKS
• National Standards List
• Textbooks and Supplemental Materials
• District/Campus List
Language Arts (Reading/Writing)
Mathematics
Science
Social Studies
True or False?
Planning activities that include fun, hands-on
experiences enhance learning for any
learner and is particularly beneficial to the
English language learner.
The role of games
According to Carleton and Marzano (2010),
roughly sixty studies have been conducted by
Marzano Research Laboratory and results show
that the use of academic games in the classroom
is associated with a 20 percentile gain.
Steps in Teaching
New Terms
1. Provide a description or example.
2. Have students restate the description or
explanation in their own words.
3. Ask students to make a picture or some type of
graphic that makes sense to them.
4. Engage students in activities that add to their
knowledge.
5. Allow students to discuss the terms with one
another.
6. Involve students in games that allow them to play
with the words.
(Carleton & Marzano, 2010)
Which games?
Our Objectives…
Content
Language
• Analyze effective
teaching
strategies for
vocabulary
building in fun
ways for children
• Discuss the
features of
successful
implementation of
games to use for
vocabulary
building
References
Echevarria, J., Peterson, C., & Short, D.J. (2012). Using
the SIOP Model with Pre-K and Kindergarten English
Learners. Boston, MA: Pearson.
Calderon, M.E. & Minaya-Row, L. (2011). Preventing
Long-Term ELs: Transforming Schools to Meet Core
Standards. Boston, MA: Pearson.
Carleton, L. & Marzano, R.J. (2010). Vocabulary Games
for the Classroom. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin.
Contact
Gloria Palomo
Educational Specialist, ESC20
[email protected]