Developing Vocabulary & Concepts

Developing Vocabulary & Concepts

1. Vocabulary

   • Types of Vocabulary:
     • General
     • Special
     • Technical
   • Provide Direct Instructions
   • Strategies for Defining Words in Relation to Concepts
     • Vocabulary Self-Collection Strategy (VSS)
       • Promotes Long-Term Acquisition of Language in an Academic Discipline
     • Concepts of Definitions (CD)
       • Provides Framework for Organizing Conceptual Information
   • Vocabulary-Building Strategies
     • Context
     • Word Structure
     • Dictionary

2. Reading Comprehension

   • Knowledge of Word Meaning
   • Ability to Use Knowledge Effectively

3. Words

   • Labels for Concepts

4. Concepts

   • Concepts are Learned by Interacting with the Environment
   • Represents Anything That Can be Grouped Together by Common Features
   • Examples
     • Member of Any Concept Being Considered
     • Relevant Attributes
       • Features, Traits, Properties, or Characteristics in Common
       • Critical
         • Characteristic is Necessary for Every Example
       • Variable
         • Characteristic that is Shared by Some, But Not All, Examples

5. Graphic Organizers

   • Diagram That Uses Content Vocabulary to Help Students Make Connections in Readings
   • Uses of Graphic Organizers:
     • Activate Prior Knowledge of Vocabulary
     • Clarify Understanding of Concepts
   • Types of Graphic Organizers:
     • Network Tree
     • Mind Map
     • Time Line
     • Concept Circles

6. Semantic Feature Analysis

   • Establishes a Link Between Prior Knowledge and Words That are Conceptually Related
     • Ways to Activate Students' Prior Knowledge
       • Word Exploration
         • Writing-to-Learn Strategy
         • Allows Students to Write Everything They Know About a Topic
           • Activates Schemata & Jogs Long-Term Memory
       • Brainstorming
         • Quickly Allows Students to Generate What They Know About a Key Concept
         • Two Basic Steps
           • Involves Identifying a Key Concept
           • Work in Small Groups to Generate a List of Words Related to the Concept
         • List-Group-Label
           • Group Words into Logical Arrangements
             • Label Each Arrangement
       • Word Sorts
         • Take a List of Words and Sort Them into Logical Arrangements
         • Types of Word Sorts:
           • Open Sort
             • No Categories or Criteria are Given
           • Closed Sort
             • Main Categories Provided