[LIT] methods of assessing vocabulary

[Pam]

Tena wrote:
I wonder if we could adapt Atwell's personal spelling words
technique for vocabulary. I needed to revisit this for my students as
well and wonder if we can brainstorm this. For Atwell, Kids generate
a list from their writing in which they have misspelled a word. She
suggests five words per week that they focus on learning. For vocab
our students could cross content areas and bring in the vocab they
need from math, science, SS and ELA! There is a buddy system
assessment piece in which students give and correct each others words
moving them to a list that shows they have demonstrated how to spell (
in our case they show the understand the word meanings) This may prove
to be the tricky part. I have a context organizer created by Randi
Allen that I adapted for taking words from a text and learning what it
means. I'll email you a copy if you like. But with Atwell every few
weeks she has the kids revisit the "learned list" and they may have to
move a word back for re-learning...


Pam writes:
I REALLY like the sounds of this. What I'm doing now is very work 
intensive! I have 5 different vocabulary lists (from Lit Circle novels 
and grade level-must know words). Each level is geared for 7+, 6, 5-4, 
4-3, 3-2. I have different activities that each level does, but some 
are shared across the board. I call it Independent Vocab. & work with 
small groups (usually the lower groups, but sometimes squeeze in time 
to push my above grade level kiddos too) while in workshop. Each child 
is responsible for completing 6 points of activities (I have 26-30 
points for them to pick from). Things like create flash cards & 
practice for 10 minutes, write the synonym & antonym, draw an 
illustration of each word with the word written below it, use each word 
in a comic strip, etc. The kids like the choices, even though they 
don't throw a party when they get new lists. They get 15 words per week 
(usually more like a week & 1/2 as we are constantly interrupted).

I think the kids would have great buy-in selecting their own words. I'm 
very interested to see the context organizer. Would you please share?

As far as assessment, I usually give a select the correctly spelled 
word from the list of misspelled words (scantron) and have the kids 
write a short story or poem that shows the meaning of the 10 words of 
my choice. Sometimes (when we have time after state testing in March) I 
will have them partner up & create mini-puppet shows or skits to show 
the words meanings. This is fun since I can move groups around and kids 
who aren't usually pulled into a group are put together. They often 
don't think of this as a "test" (funny how non-threatening the word 
assessment can be).

However, I would really like to move the work load to their shoulders 
as mine are getting tired!

 :o) Pam/6th gr./FL
An education isn't how much you have committed to memory, or even how 
much you know. It's being able to differentiate between what you do 
know and what you don't.
Anatole France (1844 - 1924)

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