Happy to be an SLP Blog Hop

 

 

Today I am excited to be participating in this super fun blog hop “Happy to be an SLP!”

To celebrate Better Speech and Hearing Month, each blogger will be sharing some facts and information with you so you definitely don’t want to miss a post! If you missed one, just click on the image below to be taken to the beginning. Collect all the letters along the way and enter the phrase it creates at the end for a chance to win some amazing gift cards!

 

Evidence-Based Vocabulary Strategy: Word Associations

My little piece of information is a vocabulary strategy that has research written all over it! I love be assured that what I’m doing has been proven effective and word associations is a great way to boost vocabulary.

 

So…how can you incorporate this strategy into your teaching? Here are a few easy and effective ways;

1 Have students pair up words and then explain how they go together. An important fact to remember: Word Associations do not equal Synonyms. Students must see a relationship between the words and explain to you how they go together.

Here’s an example.

Write the following words on the board for the students to see:

precious, queasy, ancestor, fragile

Next, have students complete the statements, matching the words with the correct associations:

1. Rollercoaster and _______ go together because _______________.

2. Glass and _________ go together because ________________.

3. Gem and __________ go together because ________________.

4. Grandparent and __________ go together because ________________.

 

2. Another way to teach word associations is to have students match words with situations. For example, using the word “risky,” ask students which of the following situations constitutes as being “risky.”

1. Reading a new book.

2. Climbing up a rickety ladder.

3.  Walking across the street without looking.

 

3. Finally, have students work on word associations by asking them questions to gauge their understanding of the word. Here’s a few examples:

1. What type of grades would a clever student bring home?

2. What might a gregarious person do at a party?

3. Why would it be fun to visit a generous candy shop owner?

 

I hope you learned some new information on how to effectively teach vocabulary! If you’d like to learn more on word associations, check out “Creating Robust Vocabulary” by Beck, McKeown, and Kucan.

And now…my secret letter. 🙂

 

Continue onto the next blog!